The winter is a very idyllic time of year. While the world is revelling in the peace and beauty of the snow, it could be wreaking havoc on your roof. Ice dams are a blockage of snow that prevents melting water from running off the roof. A poorly insulated attic is the common culprit, as the warm air rises and melts the snow on the roof. This can cause damage to not only the roof, but also your ceilings inside.
When standing water is prevented from running off your roof, it has nowhere to go but down. The water will make its way underneath the shingles and eventually run down your walls and ceilings. Unfortunately, untreated water damage can cause mold from forming and potentially cause a great health risk to you and your family.
The easiest way to prevent ice dams from forming in the first place is to have your attic properly ventilated. This will prevent the snow from melting in the first place. If the dam has already formed, consider removing the snow using various tools or contacting a snow removal professional to eliminate the potential problem.
The worst-case scenario of course is the roof collapsing. Snow related insurance claims cost millions of dollars, in addition to raising the cost of insurance for homeowners. It is best to look into having the snow removed to avoid these disasters.
There are tools that are specifically designed for removing snow build-up from the roof. These range from snow rakes, snow blades and snow razors. All these tools are designed to slice the snow and pull it down in a controlled manner. Be advised that this is a dangerous task and should only be performed by those with knowledge of snow removal. Calling a professional is ideal and the safest method.
There are measures that can be taken to prevent snow build-up in the future, including venting the attic and clearing the gutters. The worst case would be a new roof to ensure efficiency is maximized. Unfortunately, for older homes, it is more difficult to repair the roof, making snow removal much more frequent
Here are some of the more common ways ice dams can be prevented with the help of professionals.
The first solution is to apply a rubber, waterproof layer to last 8 or 10 courses of shingles on your roof. This does not prevent the ice dam from forming, but it will hinder the standing water from seeping between the shingles. The second option is to install heating cables along the edge of the roof to combat freezing ice. The cables ensure that the ice melts and runs free of the roof. The final solution ensures that the problem ceases to happen, by insulating the attic to prevent warm air from heating the roof.
These methods are all beneficial to preventing the damage of ice dams and snow build-up. However, professional roofers should perform these techniques. Consider calling roofing professionals in your area to do the job.
For a complete insurance review please feel free to give me a call at 248-390-6345 or visit my website at http://www.roninsureme.com .
