Though it’s still only early fall, winter is coming. Soon, you’ll be complaining about the cold and worrying about whether or not it’s going to snow. After all, it does tend to snow now and then where you live. This is why you must take preventative measures now to avoid roof damage due to snow and ice this winter.
If you don’t remove the snow and ice from your roof, or hire a professional to do it, you’ll end up with an even bigger problem. The snow will begin to melt and turn into ice. Then, when it snows again, you’ll have snow on top of the ice.
Eventually, it will be impossible to remove safely and could potentially cause significant damage, not only to the exterior of your roof but the interior of your home as well. There are a few things you can do to remove snow from your roof safely. There are also a few things you can do to avoid property damage in the future due to snowfalls. This article will explain a few steps you can take to protect your property this winter.
Clearing Snow from Your Roof
Did you know that there’s a right and a wrong way to remove the snow and ice from your roof? The most important thing to keep in mind is that you should avoid using a shovel. Shovels are heavy and potentially dangerous. You can cause damage to your roof and can also hurt yourself.
When it’s cold and windy, the last thing you should be doing is climbing on top of your roof and swinging a heavy metal shovel.
Instead, you should be using a roof rake. These tools have a 16-foot handle, so you don’t have to worry about walking around on your roof. If your house is low enough, you can even work it from the ground. Grab as much snow as you can and pull it off the roof.
When you are clearing the snow from your roof, you want to do it in sections. Work some on the left side and then work some on the right. This keeps the snow removal balanced, and you don’t have to worry about leaving one side with heavy snow if you end up having to stop halfway through. An imbalance can result in your roof collapsing, which is not a good situation.
Consider Investing in Snow Guards
Of course, some people invest in snow guards, so they don’t have to be concerned with snow accumulation on their roofs. A snow guard is a hardy plastic guard that allows snow to fall off the roof instead of dumping off in a giant avalanche. Additionally, they let the water from melting snow drip off instead of freezing and creating ice dams in the gutters.
An ice dam is the result of water from melting snow, building up, and then freezing. There are a few ways that you can prevent ice dams from occurring:
- Use snow guards
- Keep your attic cold to keep water that’s on the edge of the roof from freezing and clogging baffles
- Provide adequate ventilation by installing cardboard baffles
In Conclusion
Remember, it’s always better to prevent snow damage to your roof in the first place than to have to worry about making repairs. Some of the issues that can be prevented by avoiding snow and ice build-up on your roof include:
- Roof leaks
- Roof collapse
- Moisture build-up/mold growth
- Uneven areas of your roof
- Issues with ventilation
All of these issues can end up costing you a lot to repair. Therefore, instead of dealing with repairs, follow the preventative measures outlined here or contact A & J Reliable and we will take care of it for you!
