Did you know that one square foot of snow can weigh 20 to 40 pounds? When piled on your roof frame and paired with fickle winter and spring weather, this can lead to significant stress and damage to your home.
Early removal of ice dams and snow build-up can be the key to preventing costly repairs down the line, according to Chris Maguire, president of Bullarco Roofing & Full Exteriors.
“During a massive snowstorm or a massive rain downpour, you’ll get a leak you’ve never had before and don’t understand why,” Maguire says. “It needs to be addressed or it’s going to continue — and it’s going to get worse.”
Based in Peterborough and also servicing Kawartha Lakes and beyond, Bullarco continues to grow as a leader in complete roofing solutions using local and Canadian suppliers wherever possible. With decades of experience, the company’s dedicated and knowledgeable team delivers a fast response to tackle even the largest winter hazards from ice dams and build-ups to leaking windows and eavestrough damage.
“A lot of people don’t understand the amount of weight on a roof that’s caused by snow build-up,” says Maguire. “The weight that carries on top of the rafters with your full roof load itself starts to weigh in on everything through the house. Then, once you start getting a little bit of melt, it could lead to even more damage.”
When the weather is warm enough, the snow build-up melts into the eavestroughs which can then turn into ice very quickly if freezing temperatures return. This ice build-up can tear eavestroughs away from the fascia, break downspouts, and disrupt water drainage. Fortunately, this can be an easy fix if caught early.
“When we got a call about water leaking in the kitchen, I went up on the roof and saw the eavestrough was just full of debris,” Maguire recalls. “The water backed up and went under their shingles, so I just cleaned out the eavestrough and carried on. When ice dams are extreme, we need to get ice picks out or put up heat trace cables to eliminate the ice, but sometimes it’s just a quick fix.”
The freeze-thaw cycle can also be exacerbated by heat loss caused by an under-insulated attic. This heats the roof deck and melts the snow, leading water to find its way to the walls, windows, or under the shingles, creating leaks in the house or moisture on the trusses.
“Once water starts penetrating into your roof system, then it eventually turns into mold,” says Maguire. “A lot of times you don’t find the damage until the springtime, but that’s happened all winter long.”
To see if you have excess heat loss escaping your attic, Maguire says to look around the exhaust ventilation pipe on your roof. If it’s clear of snow in surrounding areas, then there’s a lot of heat loss.
Maguire also recommends cleaning out your eavestroughs before winter to remove fallen leaves and other debris, like parts of deteriorating shingles, that can prevent water from draining.
“Everything may look fine from the ground, but there could be a big mess in there,” he says. “When it starts building up, your five-inch eavestrough can now only handle about an inch of water.”
Bullarco specializes in premium metal roofing systems made to last decades with proven weather durability, which can be a solution for extreme winter hazards since melting snow and ice can flow right off the roof.
“The sun heats the metal and sheds the ice off the roof faster, whereas a shingle will hold that moisture,” Maguire says. “Your winter maintenance is definitely alleviated with a metal roof because you’re not going to have that backup. The snow and ice isn’t going to build up behind your eavestroughs.”
For homeowners seeking a more traditional roof, the company also installs asphalt shingles. The team ensures expert installation with an ice and water shield underlay, backed by a warranty to protect from leaks and keep heat in as much as possible.
Bullarco does year-round repairs and installations and is actively hiring metal roofers to take on even more work. With a quick lead time, each project begins with an assessment personally done by Maguire and finishes with a guided walk-through with the homeowner.
Susan Vass of 100 Acre Brewing Co. says Bullarco “got the job done with precision and great care” after the family-owned Peterborough brewery experienced permitting delays and urgently needed a roof and siding installed for a newly erected timber frame building to protect it from winter weather.
“Bullarco waved a magic wand and did extra work outside their job description, and worked right up until Christmas so we could have the shop and timbers saved from the elements and ready to work in,” she says. “The roof and siding looks spectacular. I’ve never seen such a large group of guys works so hard and so well together.”
If you’re not sure whether snow removal or a whole new roof is the solution, with Bullarco’s free roof analysis, there’s no harm in giving them a call.
“When you think there’s something wrong, there’s something wrong,” Maguire says. “If you look at something and think it doesn’t look right, then your gut’s telling you something. Call us, we’ll come have a look, and we’ll give you an honest opinion.”
For more information on Bullarco and their services, visit bullarco.ca. For updates on recent projects, follow Bullarco on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Bullarco Roofing & Full Exteriors. If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
