Old Man Winter is definitely making his presence known.  After a very mild winter season, the blizzard hitting the Washington DC area is hitting us hard.  
As the snow continues to accumulate on the ground, it is also accumulating on our rooftops as well.  Many of our roofs in the Washington DC are flat roofs making the accumulation more severe than your typical pitched roofs.  
Residents in Washington DC need to be vigilant in removing the snow from their flat roofs before the weight and water can cause too much damage.  
Damages that can occur from snow and rain:
Bowing in the Roof
Without a direction to run off in it’s possible that snow, hail, or even heavy rain can collect on a flat roof and put unnecessary down-bearing pressure onto the structure. Snowfall is really the biggest danger here – its texture and the slow, steady speed it tends to fall mean that it can settle on roofs in very large quantities. Unlike hail it’s unlikely to bounce off, and unlike raindrops it won’t run off a flat surface once a large quantity is collected.
If the weight causes the roof to bow in shape, then when the snow melts – or when it later rains – a puddle can collect on the roof. Unless a roof-pond is something that you like the sound of, this is undesirable as it will of course further increase the dip in shape, but the prolonged presence of water can have other implications too:
Freeze-Thaw
They key to understanding the effects of freeze-thaw is knowing that when water freezes, it expands. In countries with very hot days and very cold nights the water in rocks and bricks freezes overnight, expanding any cracks or holes by putting pressure on them from the inside. This effect is most obvious in the dramatic cracks and layers found in some desert rocks.
When water makes its way into the cracks in your roof in the UK, the result will be a lot less pronounced but will still damage the integrity of the roof. In winter, the temperature often hovers at around 0°C, and we often have overnight frosts that then melt in the early mornings. Any small weaknesses will be widened and worsened by this freeze-thaw action. The best way to prevent this is with a pitched roof that will allow rainwater to run off, preventing it from freezing and refreezing. Even very low pitch roof tiles, from 10°, can greatly reduce the effects of frost damage. There isn’t much you can do to prevent dew drops from forming into a light frost cover, but these will be less damaging than a heavy covering of rain or snow.
Leaks
The bows in the roof caused over time will increase the risk of a leak, as rain will simply collect. Any faults in the roof are much more likely to give way under the weight and let water inside if the water is unable to run off. This can cause hygiene and structural problems by leaking into your building’s structure and having serious repercussions all the way through.
This damage may not be immediately obvious to you, and by the time you realise what’s happening it could be very advanced and expensive to fix. Mould and mildew can cause serious health problems, as well as ruining furniture and paintwork. Meanwhile the increased moisture can also cause damage to your decoration and any metal or wooden fixings or features.
Flat-to-pitch roof conversions are highly recommended for any home or business owner with a flat roof. The investment in protecting your property will save you a lot of heartache in the long run, as the problems that can be caused over time can be avoided altogether with some preventative action. If you’d like to see how we can help you protect your property, contact us for a no-obligation discussion.

Our family at Boyd Construction Co Inc are hard at work helping home owners clear their roofs.  We are available for emergency roof repair and snow removal.  Be sure to contact us ASAP!

• Most flat roofs are typically not as long lasting or durable as many sloped ones, because the latter shed snow and rain a lot quicker. However, over the last few decades new and advanced flat roofing membranes have been developed that are highly durable, energy efficient and can compete with sloped roofs in longevity.
• There are three general types: 1. Single – Ply 2. Built-up 3. Spray-on/paint-on.
  
• Today, single ply membranes are the most popular flat roof materials used in both commercial and residential construction.
  
•  Built-up roofs are manufactured using built-up layers of either tar-saturated paper and liquid tar with gravel, asphalt, rolled asphalt, or modified bitumen. As the roof is installed, more and more layers are added to increase durability and longevity, hence the name “built-up”.
  
• There are two main types of spray-on roofs:
  

1. Spray Foam Insulation (sprayed directly onto the roof deck and then coated with acrylic or urethane coating, as well as a layer of crushed stones/sand.
2. Roof coatings (manufactured for existing roofs and used to extend their service life by 10-15 years). They are typically installed on top of single ply, modified or low slope metal roofs.

• A flat roof costs less than a pitched/sloped one.
• It is critical to find a contractor who specializes in single ply roofing to ensure that there will be no leaks after installation. Many customers make the mistake of hiring contractors specializing in sloped roofing (asphalt shingles), who have little to no experience with complicated flat roofs.
• Manufacturer warranties offered on different types of flat membranes vary greatly depending on membrane’s thickness, size, method of installation, and environmental conditions.
  
• The biggest problem for most flat roofs is the presence of seams and flashing, because that is precisely where leaks occur.
  
• If no leaks occur, its still recommended to re-seam (apply 6 inch cover tape over all seams) an EPDM rubber every 7-10 years, when adhesive starts to naturally fail. Repairs are done using EPDM peel & stick flashing + EPDM primer (recommended method) or using older black glue. Penetrations are repaired using uncured flashing that can be stretched to form around angled surfaces.
  
• A flat roof is the best material on a very large size building. Installing a pitched roof on such a building is not recommended, because it will be a lot more difficult, and costly. It will also require special engineering to accommodate the additional structural weight, as well as rooftop HVAC equipment and drainage.
  
• A rooftop garden installed on a flat roof improves air quality and reduces the heat island effect in large urban areas.
  

Contact Boyd Construction Co Inc, Washington DC area flat roof specialist for an estimate on repairs or rebuilds.

Siding can definitely be replaced in the winter, but it's important to take into consideration the challenges it can present...

One of the cons would be that vinyl siding can become brittle in cold temperatures. (Although the weather this year in Washington DC has not been as brutal as years passed as we progress into the winter months it can become more and more of an issue).  It can create a problem during installation. Sections can crack, leading to higher cost for replacement pieces.

On the upside, Boyd Construction Co Inc works year round to provide quick service such as siding repair in the Washington DC area. With projects being a little slower in the winter months there is more time to focus on completing siding work.