While the snow has melted some and the temperature has reached above freezing for a few days Mr. Winter is not quite over yet. Actually, the forecast for Duluth is snow for the rest of the week and into next week. With snow also comes ice dams, don’t let your money fly out the roof, protect it!
An ice dam is a buildup of ice, usually located by the gutters of a home, due to melting snow on top of a roof.
Prevention
Before a winter storm hits, there are ways of insuring an ice dam is prevented. The roof is the reason, location and starting place of the damage. To prevent any issues you must make sure the attic under the roof is the same temperature as the outside. Adding more insulation is a start, also making sure there is proper ventilation will aid in this task.
Right after a winter storm there also are ways to prevent a massive ice dam problem. At your local hardware store, you can purchase a roof rake; this tool is usually inexpensive and is helpful for not only preventing ice dams but also lessening the amount of weight your home has to support when there is a heavy snow fall. Be careful not to dig too hard into your shingles, as this might lead to needing repairs. Also, it is recommended that you rake the snow off your roof before an ice dam has formed, if you try and rake the ice dam off; the outcome could be pulling off your gutters from your home, which means even more repair.
Professional Removal
If your prevention was not completed in time or properly, you could be staring at a mini ice rink on your home. That is when you should call the professionals at Eastside Exteriors at 612-619-5128; with over 25 years of experience, our experts will not cause damage to your home and will use the safest and most effective way to remove an ice dam, steam. Don’t let the winter creep in and cause you expensive home repairs, take action now and avoid further damage.
