Winter brings all kinds of woes that can impact your home’s integrity.
One of the biggest threats is ice dams related to ineffective gutter systems or poor roof insulation. These chunks of ice form along the sides of your roof as escaping heat from your roof melts the snow and ice. The water then freezes when it comes to the colder roof edge. As a result, water is forced back up under the shingles, seeping into your attic, walls, and ceilings.
It happens to the best of us, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to prevent them.
Here are five ways to help protect your home this winter.
1. Clean and Maintain Your Gutters
Every fall, cleaning your gutters and checking for damage that interferes with their ability to manage runoff is important.
When gutters clog, they prevent water from draining properly. This increases the risk of ice dams forming in your gutters and interrupts melted snow from flowing easily away from your roof and foundation.
2. Use a Snow Rake
Snow rakes make it easy to keep your roof clear of snow and prevent ice dams.
They use a flat head attached to a long, extendable handle that allows you to work safely from the ground to remove snow. The only issue with snow rakes is that you can inadvertently damage your roof because you can’t see what you’re doing.
You can also send snow and ice tumbling down like a mini avalanche on top of you, which is why it is best to call in a professional roofer.
3. Use Ice Melt Products
Shop for ice melt products made specifically for roofs to keep ice build-up to a minimum.
Be sure you choose a chloride-free and non-corrosive roof ice melt product, or you might damage your singles. For example, traditional rock salt will run off your roof along with melting snow, which can scrape shingles and damage the landscaping and concrete below. You also have to climb onto your roof to spread the ice melt, which is dangerous and not recommended.
4. Have a Roofing Expert Inspect Your Attic & Roof
As mentioned, heat escaping through your roof is one of the main culprits when it comes to ice dam formation. Poorly insulated or ventilated attics allow heat to escape, melting snow and ice on the roof and causing ice dams at the roof edge. A professional attic inspection will look for ventilation and insulation issues. Your roofer can ensure you have proper ventilation of external air into your attic so it remains cool to prevent melting.
A roof inspection is also important to find issues that will allow water to leak into your attic. Roof repairs will help prevent water infiltration.
5. Install Heat Cables
A roof de-icing cable, or roof heating cable system generates heat to melt ice and snow quickly.
They can also be placed to create melting pathways to help control water to avoid freezing into ice dams. When installed properly, they help avoid structural damage and reduce roof maintenance and repair costs while preventing leaks.
Although all these steps can help prevent ice dams, the simplest solution is to arrange for a fall maintenance appointment with your roofer. They will inspect your roof and gutters, make repairs and ensure your roof will stand up to whatever winter throws at it.
The Len Roofing & Remodeling Difference
When we say that we’re a top-quality home remodeling and roofing company that serves the North Shore and surrounding Chicagoland area, we back it up. We do more than simply cover the basics: we show up on time and nail it. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 847-768-6000 or visit our contact page.
