One problem that will plague roofs in the wintertime are ice dams, which is a common problem that occurs on more roofs than you may imagine. Here is what you need to know about roofing problem.
Why Ice Dams Form
Ice dams can form on a roof due to several reasons, some of which are completely out of your control. Problems related to the weather are more likely to happen when the temperature is hovering around levels where it is freezing. You'll have snow that builds up on your roof, but the weather soon warms and melts the snow during the day. The snow turns to water, flows down your roof, and then freezes again at night when the temperature drops below freezing again. If the water got beneath your shingles before freezing again, it can cause an ice dam that can cause some serious damage.
Ice dams can also form due to problems with insulation in your attic. You may have places that are lacking insulation, which creates a hot spot on your roof. This causes snow to melt and turn into water, where it travels downward and reaches a place that is well insulated. The water freezes and forms an ice dam due to a problem further up on your roof.
How To Prevent Ice Dams
The first thing you should do is inspect the insulation in your attic and look for places where it seems a bit bare. Simply putting more insulation in your attic may be all it takes to prevent the snow from melting in places.
You can also install heating cables on your roof that are designed to melt the snow and ice that travels down to the bottom of the roof. This can help stop weather related ice dams, since the water won't have a chance to turn to ice. You can also run heating cables through your gutters so icicles don't form and damage them by creating too much weight.
Another option is to use a roof rake. You can actually pull down the snow that accumulates so that it doesn't melt when the warm weather comes. It will take a bit of roof to clear the snow off your roof, but once it is gone it will be difficult for enough snow to melt and create an ice dam.
Reach out to a local roofing contractor if you need help repairing damage caused by ice dams. Contact a roofing agency like Horizon Roofing for more information.
Share12 November 2019
When it came time to install a new roof on my home, I had no idea where to start. In fact, I was exploring roofing options that were a really poor fit in my climate. It wasn't until I reached out to a local roofer that I got some lessons on how to choose the right roofing material for my home and the weather exposure it is subjected to. I built this site to share my journey, including the mistakes I made and the things that I learned along the way. If you are considering replacing your home's roof, I hope that the information here can help to guide you through the process.
