Hail, wind, snow and ice dams: roof risks on the Wasatch Front

Hail

Thunderstorms along the Wasatch Front can produce hail, most often in late spring and summer. [VERIFY: month range and frequency from NOAA Storm Events Database for Salt Lake County, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/]

Signs of hail damage: dented gutters, downspouts, and vents; dark spots where shingle granules are knocked off; cracked tiles; dings in metal flashing.

Wind

Strong downslope wind events can strike the east bench and northern Davis County. Wind lifts shingle tabs, breaks seal strips, and tears off ridge caps. Look for missing shingles in the yard and creased tabs.

Snow load

Building codes set a design snow load that varies with elevation. Bench and canyon-mouth homes may have higher requirements than the valley floor. Check the ground snow load for your address with your city building department. [VERIFY: SLC design snow load per local code amendments]

Ice dams

Ice dams form when heat escaping through the attic melts snow higher on the roof and the meltwater refreezes at the colder eaves. Water then backs up under shingles. Fixes target the cause: air sealing, insulation, and ventilation, plus ice-and-water shield at eaves during reroofing.

What to do after a storm

1. Stay off the roof. Photograph damage from the ground and note the date of the storm.
2. Cover active leaks from inside (buckets, move belongings). A licensed roofer can tarp the roof.
3. Check your policy's deductible and claim deadline before filing. See our insurance vs. cash guide.
4. Be cautious of door-to-door "storm chasers". Verify the license on DOPL.