Roofs For Cold Climates

Having a sound roof on your home benefits you in multiple ways. It can protect you from weather damage and high energy bills. The right roof can also increase the resale value of your home. If you live in an area with a cold climate, certain roofs are a better choice for you. If you need a new roof soon in your snowy locale, consider one of the following roof types. 

Metal Roofs

Metal roofs look good and last for decades. With the correct insulation, they will help keep your home warm in the worst of weather conditions. More importantly, when your home is hit with inches or even feet of snow, a metal roof offers a very practical benefit. Snow slides off a metal roof, relieving the weight strain and minimizing the water from melting snow, factors that can lead to leaks. Metal roofs also help prevent dangerous icicles from forming along the eaves of your home. Snow guards and heating cables prevent the snow from falling off at once and potentially hurting something or someone. 

Cedar Shingles

Cedar roofs are among the most beautiful roofs you can have installed. They are incredibly durable, lasting up to 50 or 60 years in some cases. They are also recyclable, so they are easy on the environment. They offer excellent performance during cold weather as well, withstanding wide temperature variations and brutal freeze-thaw cycles. If you are looking for energy savings, cedar shingles can provide them for you. They have a superior "thermal resistance" that keeps your home warmer during low temperatures. 

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are still the most common choice for roofs, and they can work well in colder climates. They are able to keep the heat inside during the cold winter months, and they have a lifespan of between 15–30 years. You may have some trouble with ice dams, those chunks of ice that prevent snow melt from running off the roof, leading to seepage under the shingles and roof leaks. One of the best ways to prevent this problem is to install roof and soffit vents to keep the surface of your roof cool to prevent the snow melt. 

Cold climates offer many home challenges. You can save yourself trouble and money by installing a roof that handles the cold and snow effectively. Metal roofs can offer you the best bet in a truly snowy area, but cedar and asphalt can also work for you.  Consult with a roofing professional like Rai Roofing Ltd Vancouver about which choice is best for your home. 


Share