Do You Need a Flat Roof Contractor After Heavy Snow?

After a heavy snowfall in Ottawa, it’s easy to see the weight on trees, decks, and cars. But what about your roof? If your home has a flat roof, that snow isn’t sliding off anytime soon. It stays right where it fell, holding moisture and weight in place.

Many homeowners aren’t sure what to do next. Should they call for help or wait for it to melt on its own? There’s always the hope that if nothing looks wrong, it’s okay to leave it be. But that wait-and-see approach can lead to bigger problems later. We’ll walk through what flat roofs go through in winter, what warning signs to spot, and why calling a flat roof contractor sooner rather than later can make a real difference.

Why Flat Roofs Take More Stress in Winter

Winter doesn’t treat every roof the same. Sloped roofs naturally shed snow as gravity pulls it down. Flat roofs don’t have that advantage. The snow just stays put, sometimes for weeks after a storm.

Meltwater has nowhere to go fast. It spreads across the surface and starts pooling near dips or joints.
That water can sneak into cracks, seams, or drainage systems that aren’t working right.
As the temperature changes, the water freezes and thaws again and again. These cycles slowly push apart materials, making small damage worse over time.

What starts as packed snow becomes heavy slush, then damaging ice. Even if your roof held up well during past winters, new wear adds up without much warning.

Signs Your Flat Roof May Be in Trouble

There are a few ways to tell if snow has started to affect your flat roof. Some signs show up inside, others are easier to spot outside during a short visual check.

Inside the home, look for water rings or stains on ceilings. These marks can mean slow drips are starting to seep through.
Paint peeling around the tops of walls or near skylights is another silent warning.
Outside, take a look from a safe distance. If water is pooling after warm days, that section of roof might not be draining.
Sagging spots or bent edges along the roofline often mean water has been sitting too long.
Ice along the sides or blocked drains is common in Ottawa during mid to late winter. But combined with other signs, it could show your roof needs attention.

You don’t need to be a roof expert to notice when something looks off. Trust what you’re seeing and don’t wait too long to act.

What a Flat Roof Contractor Looks For After Snow

A proper checkup after snowfall involves more than clearing away snow and calling it done. A flat roof contractor goes deeper than what you can see on the surface.

We check seams, flashing, and other connection points where water likes to find its way in.
Drainage systems are an important piece too. If water isn’t flowing off as it should, future ice and leaks are likely.
Older repairs or patches from past winters are worth testing. Cold and damp conditions can break down past work without leaving obvious clues.
Some of the tools we use, like thermal sensors and moisture detection, make it easier to see changes before any damage shows up from inside the house.

Roofing checks in winter are a mix of good instincts and tools that back up what we suspect. The goal is to catch problems when they’re still small enough to fix with less effort and cost.

Why Timing Matters More Than You Think

A small spot of trapped water now can quietly spread all winter. Under the snow and ice, moisture works through cracks and into layers where it starts to rot decking and soften protective barriers.

Surface leaks might take weeks to appear indoors. By then, the damage underneath has already started.
Frozen water stays stable until a soft patch of warm weather hits. That quick change can lead to sudden leaks, or worse, sagging spots.
Delaying work until spring means parts of the roof structure are exposed to damage for the rest of winter.

By connecting with a flat roof contractor early, you give yourself a better shot at catching slippery problems before they grow. It’s much easier to patch or reinforce an issue now than after several more weeks of freeze-thaw and pressure.

Getting Through Winter Without Big Surprises

There’s no way to make flat roofs completely ignore Ottawa’s winter weather, but a few simple habits go a long way. We always tell homeowners one thing, watch your roof without climbing on it.

Snow that stays packed for too long is a warning sign. If it hasn’t melted after a mild stretch, something may not be draining right.
Walk the inside of your top floor every couple of weeks and look up. The earliest damage often shows there, quietly.
Getting a flat roof contractor in for a winter roof check helps catch trouble while it’s still manageable.

Most homeowners reach out in spring when leaks show up, but waiting that long usually means more repairs. Winter checks give you a better sense of what’s happening up top.

Staying Ahead Keeps Your Roof from Slipping Behind

Magnum Roofing offers flat roof installation, seasonal repairs, and full replacements in Ottawa, handling everything from snow load damage to water infiltration after a storm. Our crews are trained to work with a wide range of flat roof materials and can spot subtle problems before they turn costly. Flat roofs do the job well when they’re kept in good shape. But snow and ice give them fewer chances to hide wear. We’ve seen roofs go through the entire season looking fine, only to fall apart once spring melt hits and moisture levels spike.

By watching for early signs, doing quick inspections, and calling in help when things don’t feel right, you keep trouble from growing quietly under the surface. Flat roofing can absolutely make it through winter in Ottawa. It just takes a little more attention and the right checks at the right time.

At Magnum Roofing, we know Ottawa winters can be tough on flat roofs. When snow builds up and starts melting, even minor drainage concerns can quickly turn into major headaches. That’s why it makes sense to schedule an inspection with a flat roof contractor who understands how winter weather impacts every layer. If something doesn’t look or feel right, let us know and we’ll take a closer look together.