Winter weather comes with an inherent sense of wonder.
Whether it’s a crisp morning with fresh snow crunching underfoot or a full blizzard that turns your neighborhood into a snow globe, winter tends to feel a little magical. But for homeowners, winter weather also brings serious risks — especially to your roof.
Winter storms cause billions in insured losses each year, with water and freeze damage ranking as the second most common homeowners insurance claim, averaging $15,400 in damage per claim. Even homes with proper insulation and maintenance can experience winter roof damage due to snow load, ice buildup, and freeze-thaw cycles.
Understanding how winter stresses your roof is the first step toward preventing costly damage before it starts.
Snow and ice affect your roof in multiple ways, including:
A snow load refers to the weight of accumulated snow on a roof. Most residential roofs are designed to support about 20 pounds per square foot, but wet, compacted snow weighs far more — and just two feet can exceed that limit.
Freeze-thaw cycles further accelerate damage as melting snow refreezes, expands, and contracts, weakening shingles, flashing, and vent components over time.
Ice dams can be spotted due to the massive icicles they form along edges or gutters, but some of these other issues can persist unseen — primarily due to the height at which they occur. With that, there are ways to fight these hidden forces, one of which is roof raking.
In northern climates, roof raking is a widely recommended winter maintenance practice. It typically consists of clearing the lower 3-4 feet of snow after storms, which helps homeowners:
Roof raking is effective, but it can introduce another risk many homeowners don’t anticipate.
Roof vent damage.
Roof vents are frequently damaged during snow removal because they are hidden beneath snow and made from relatively thin materials.
Key reasons roof raking causes vent damage include:
As a result, vents are often bent, crushed, or partially collapsed — and often without any visible damage from the ground.
Roof vents play a critical role in attic ventilation. When roof vents are damaged or restricted, airflow decreases, leading to:
Because of this, in cold climates, proper roof ventilation is just as important as insulation when it comes to preventing winter damage.
Many standard roof vent terminations are made from lighter gauge steel or aluminum. They aren’t really designed to withstand:
Over time, light-weight vent terminations bend, fatigue, and fail. This can happen after only a few seasons in snow-heavy regions, too.
Heavy-duty steel vent guards — like the HY-GUARD EXCLUSION® Roof VentGuard™ Plus — are designed specifically for harsh winter conditions experienced more heavily in certain regions. They offer:
This makes them a practical upgrade for homeowners who regularly deal with snow removal and winter roof stress.
Our Roof VentGuard Plus, featuring Paint-Lock Galvannealed Steel™ construction (in black, of course), installs easily and comes single-unit or via 6-pack. Retaining 50 square inches of venting area, Roof VentGuard Plus is ideal for all roof pitches.
It’s a simple upgrade that helps protect one of the most vulnerable — and overlooked — components of your winter roof system.
Snow loads and ice dams may be the most visible winter roof problems, but they aren’t the only ones. Taking winter roof precautions means accounting for more than just snow and ice.
Here’s a quick winter roof preparation checklist:
These small preventive steps can help you reduce repairs, protect ventilation, and extend the life of your roof.
Winter will always bring snow and ice. Make sure your roof is built to handle both — and the maintenance that comes with them.