7 Home Damages That Can Be Caused By Snow

Once you become a homeowner, snowfall becomes less of a magical landscape and more of a cause for concern. Snow and ice can cause serious damage to your home’s exterior, costing you hundreds in repairs if you’re not properly prepared.  Some states worse than others but nonetheless winter months can be frigid for many. 

Here are 7 possible home damages that can be caused by the snow;

1. Roof Damage

Ice dams and winter storms can cause significant damage to your roof. An ice dam occurs when snow on the roof melts due to heat from the attic and refreezes, pushing water under the roof. Ice dams are known to cause roofing leaks and shingle deterioration, among other damages.  Additionally, the sheer weight of snow can cause significant damages to your roof. Issues such as leaks, ice dams and interior water damage are common when the weight of snow is too heavy for your roof to bear.

2. Gutter Damage 

Aside from damaging your roof, ice dams also pose a threat to your home’s gutters. As the snow and ice melt and refreeze at the base of the roof, the water expands, causing the gutters to detach from your home. Water from snow and ice may also drain into your downspouts. If this water refreezes, it may cause downspouts to detach from your home as well. If this happens, immediate repair may be required.

3. Exterior Damage

During the cold weather months, snow can also be harmful to the outside of the home. If allowed to remain in contact with the exterior surfaces, snow can damage your home’s siding, especially wood siding. 

4. Driveway Damage

Throughout the year, it’s important to check your driveway for cracks. During the winter, water can seep into these cracks and freeze, causing frost heave. Frost heave occurs when the water freezes and expands, causing larger cracks and potholes in your driveway. This is most likely to happen after a snowfall, so be extra cautious during wintry weather. 

5. Foundation Damage

The same freezing and unfreezing, and expanding and thawing cycles that can cause cracks in the driveway can also cause damage to the foundation of your home. Small cracks in the concrete of the foundation that is produced over time naturally can expand during the cold winter months. These cracks are some of the most severe home damages caused by snow that can cause significant damages to your home’s structure if left untreated. 

6. Pipe Damage 

By this point, we all know that water expands when it freezes. If water is inside your pipes when that happens, the pipes could crack or burst under pressure, potentially causing significant water damage to the underside of your home. In case of a water-related emergency, knowing the location of your shut off valve is a good idea. Typically, it’s located in the basement or buried towards the street in your front lawn with a concrete or plastic access cover. 

7. Tree Damage

Trees tend to look sturdy and durable during the spring and summer months. However, trees and their branches can be affected by wind, ice and snow. Snow-covered branches put trees under stress, causing branches to break apart and fall.  When this happens, fallen branches could cause damage to your home, car, shed and more. 

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