Winter in Hampton Roads is a bit of a trickster. One day we’re enjoying a mild afternoon, and the next, a bitter cold snap has us all cranking up the heat. While we usually spend our time talking about hurricane prep or that thick summer humidity, these prolonged freezing stretches can be just as tough on your home.
At The Roofing Company team, we think of your roof like a heavy winter coat for your house. If that coat gets stiff, cracked, or weighed down, it can’t do its job of keeping your family tucked away safe and dry.
Why the Cold is Hard on Your Roof
When the mercury drops across the Peninsula and the Southside, your roofing materials go through some physical stress you might not notice from the driveway:
The "Brittle" Factor: Just like how a garden hose gets stiff in January, your shingles lose their flexibility. If a Nor'easter brings those signature heavy winds to Hampton or Newport News, brittle shingles are much more likely to snap or blow away.
The Freeze-Thaw Tug-of-War: When water gets into a tiny crack and freezes, it expands. Over a few weeks of freezing nights and sunny Virginia afternoons, those small gaps can turn into "sneaky" leaks.
A Word on Icicles: While often beautiful, icicles are a visual clue that water is melting high on your roof and freezing again at the edge. This is exactly how an ice dam starts. If you see a lot of them, it’s a good sign that your attic is likely too warm and is venting improperly. It's a red flag that's worth a quick check-up.
The Rare Ice Dam Warning: You’ve probably seen those thick ridges of ice hanging off gutters. In Hampton Roads, our "thaw cycles" usually melt these before they become an issue. However, during a prolonged cold spell, they can become a real headache. If you see ice backing up under the shingles, it’s often a sign that your attic isn't "breathing" or venting quite right. It’s a red flag that’s worth a quick check-up to keep your ceilings dry.
Simple Ways to Stay Ahead of the Chill
Protecting your peace of mind doesn't have to be a chore. Here’s how we recommend keeping things ship-shape until spring arrives:
Check Your Attic’s "Breath": Proper ventilation is the secret to a healthy roof. A well-vented attic stays cool, which prevents that melting-and-freezing cycle that leads to ice dams and interior water damage. You can check this yourself on a cold day. If you go up into your attic and it feels significantly warmer than the air outside, or if you see frost or moisture on the underside of the roof deck, it's a sign that warm air from your house is escaping and raising the attic temperature. This is key for preventing both minor icicles and the more damaging ice dams. A dry, cool attic is a happy attic.
Gutter Housekeeping: If melting snow can’t get down the spout because of leftover fall leaves, it’s going to find another path—usually right under your shingles. While clearing them in freezing weather is dangerous and best left to a professional, you can use a hose on a warm day to flush the downspouts or use a leaf blower from a stable ladder to clear surface debris. Give them a good cleaning before the next round of winter weather hits.
The Ground-Level Scan: After the next big frost or wind event, take a quick stroll around the yard. If you’re in Norfolk or Virginia Beach and see shingles in the grass or hanging crooked after a storm, it's better to catch it now before the spring rains start.
Whenever you're ready to take a closer look at how your roof is handling the season, we’re just a phone call away. If you’re worried about a leak or just want a second pair of eyes to make sure everything is sturdy, give us a call or text at 757-867-6600. We’re always happy to stop by and give you an honest, neighborly assessment.
Tags
Subscribe to The Roofing Company's Blog
Comments