Pennsylvania is a frequent victim of severe weather, so much so that there’s even a Severe Weather Awareness Week. All of that weather can have intense effects on your home and roofing.
Read on to learn about four weather events and how they affect your roof.
1. Hailstorms
Hail is one of the most dangerous types of precipitation. As ice plummets from the sky, sharp shards can cut and damage property and cause serious injury to people.
Hail is especially dangerous to roofs. The falling ice shards can cause dents and holes in aluminum gutters and asphalt shingles. It can also crack vinyl siding and damage wooden portions of the home.
2. Straight-Line Winds
Straight-line winds are high-speed winds that usually appear as a result of the downdraft of a thunderstorm. These winds can exceed 60 Mph and reach as high as 100 Mph.
These winds can tear shingles straight off your roof with relative ease. They can also knock over nearby hazards like trees onto your roof, damaging them that way instead.
3. Extended Snowfall
Snowfall is dangerous when left unchecked, and the weight it exerts on your roof is especially hazardous. Extended snowfall can leave your roof at risk of caving in due to the weight.
It can also clump in areas like corners and gutters and freeze. When freezing, it expands, putting stress on nearby parts of your roof and threatening to break.
4. Torrential Rains
Heavy downfalls of rain can exert more pressure on your roof, especially in extended periods.
A surplus of rainwater can also exacerbate other issues created throughout the year. Areas unprotected by shingles or small holes become significantly worse when subjected to severe rainfall.
Staying Safe
When the stormy seasons come, your roof is always under threat. Do your best to stay proactive in preventing these threats. Keep your yard clear of hazards that could fall and damage your roof, and make sure to keep your roof and gutters as clean as possible.