It’s no big secret that Minnesota can have some brutal, unpredictable weather throughout the year. Between below-freezing temperatures in the winter months and wild squalls during the summer, weather can significantly impact some of the most integral components of your home.

Proactively preparing your Minnesota property for harsh conditions can help mitigate severe damage, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. After storm damage occurs, acquire a high-quality Minnesota roofing and remodeling company to assist with insurance claims and provide expert storm damage services in the North Star State.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS: 6 KINDS OF MINNESOTA WEATHER THAT CAN IMPACT YOUR HOME

Living in the Midwest can be incredibly rewarding because of the beautiful natural splendor and sunny, enjoyable weather in warmer months. However, heavy storms are also common in this region, causing damage to different parts of a home or property. Explore each extreme weathering event below to prepare yourself better for the unpredictability of Minnesota weather.

1. SNOW

As you likely already know from living in the Midwest, the winters in Minnesota can be far from pleasant, especially when it comes to property damage. Snow and sleet slam into roofs, siding, fences, and other features of your home, impacting both functionality and aesthetics.

The areas of your home most susceptible to snow damage are the roof, shingles, siding, windows, and gutter systems. Look for signs of snow damage, such as:

• Loose or missing shingles
• Sunken roofing
• Falling gutter sections
• Cracked window caulking
• Broken window/door seals
• Cracked glass
• Siding damage (cracks, holes, lingering moisture, etc.)
• Leaking or flooded basements

Sometimes, the worst damage occurs once the snow finally disappears. High levels of snowmelt in spring can leave your home’s lawn a mess and even create leaks in the roof or foundation. Take care to find a reliable local contractor to assist after any snow or storm damage occurs on your property.

2. ICE

Ice is another culprit that can wreak havoc on your home in the winter months. Issues such as ice dams can be hazardous as well as damaging. Ice dams are ridges of snow and ice that accumulate on the edge of your roof, often accompanied by dangling (and dangerous) icicles over your gutters. When snow and ice pile up behind a big ice dam, it can potentially cause the excess precipitation to leak into your home’s attic or occupied levels below.

Don’t wait around for Minnesota’s spring thaw for those ice dams to melt. Obtain professional ice dam removal services in your area from a reliable roofing contractor or company and avoid expensive repairs. Regular maintenance of your roof and gutters can also help mitigate the adverse impacts of ice dams on your home.

3. RAIN

Excessive rainfall is another common weather event in Minnesota, causing considerable damage to your home without proper preparation. Squalls, or sudden bursts of rain and heavy winds that happen in a localized area, are among the tenets of Minnesota’s summer season.

Thunderstorms, hail, high winds, and prolonged periods of dreary, drizzling weather are also bound to happen throughout the year. Having a storm damage contractor on your side after heavy rains or a particularly severe squall will help restore your property to its prior condition.

4. HIGH WINDS

Another thing to watch out for throughout the year here in Minnesota is high winds. The Midwestern landscape is much less mountainous than other regions of the country, creating the perfect environment for wind storms and even more severe weather events such as twisters or tornadoes.

Take time each season to check on window shutters, shingles, siding, glass, and gutter systems for signs of wind damage. Common indicators of wind damage include:

• Loose, curled, or missing shingles
• Gutters pulling away from the fascia board
• Cracks or holes in siding materials
• Damaged window seals, hanging gutters, or broken glass
• Fallen fencing

5. EXTREME COLD

Of course, extremely cold temperatures are typical of winters in the Midwest region. You can rely on large temperature fluctuations to leave damage on your home or property at some point in its lifetime. Changes in external temperatures can cause soil and other solid materials to contract and expand, impacting the stability of certain areas or systems inside or outside your home.

Fluctuating temperatures outside can take a toll on different parts of your home or property. Keep your eye on the functionality of a few susceptible systems and areas, including:

• Window seals
• Building foundations
• HVAC systems
• Attic insulation
• Shingle integrity
• Wooden siding
• Wood fences
• Fence post foundation

The cycle of changing temperatures causes soil, concrete, and wood materials to contract and expand. Contracting and expanding materials leave extra wiggle room for lingering moisture, mold, mildew, and other problems to infiltrate affected areas of your property.

Find out more about durable, reliable roofing materials for cold climates like Minnesota here.

6. HAIL

Although hailstorms are far less common than the other weather conditions listed above, they can be highly destructive. In fact, hailstorms are among the top reasons homeowners file a homeowners insurance claim each year. It’s essential to understand the impacts these tiny balls of ice can have on your home or property. Depending on hail particle sizes and the severity of the storm, there’s potential for extreme damage to many different areas of your home.

Hail storms regularly bust through the glass of windows on homes (or cars), create cracks, holes, or dents in siding, and break down roofing. Work with a reliable home renovation company after a hailstorm for help filing a homeowners insurance claim — and expert storm repairs, of course.

PROTECTING YOUR MINNESOTA HOME

Preparing your property for winter weather is crucial if you want to protect against storm damage and further foundational issues for your home. Work with a trusted home remodeling contractor to create a winterization plan for the different areas of your home that can fall victim to various winter weather events. With a high-quality course of action in place, plus an experienced exterior remodeling company on your side, your home will stay safe from severe weather conditions here in Minnesota.