What Washington's valleys and ridges do to a roof
Washington is folded terrain: the Shepaug valley at the Depot, ridges above it, and a lake basin at New Preston. The valley holds damp air and heavy shade, so Depot roofs grow moss on the north side and dry slowly after rain. The ridge properties take wind across open fields and deep snow that sits for weeks, building ice at the eaves on any house with a warm attic. Mature trees nearly everywhere mean limbs on roofs after wind and ice storms and leaves packed into valleys. Freeze and thaw works at slate fasteners, chimney mortar and old flashing through the long winters.
