Removing heavy snow
from your roof can prevent costly water damage to
your roof, walls and ceilings. But unless you can do
it safely, don't jeopardize your well-being by
trying to remove it yourself. Leave it to a
professional.
Water leaks from ice and snow are caused by interior
heat from the house. Water from this melting is
trapped and creates an ice dam on the roof, gutters
and downspouts. The water then takes the path of
least resistance under the roof system, or sideways
and through flashings, which were not designed for
ponded water. When this happens, interior water
damage can occur.
Some roofing contractors may suggest that rock salt
or calcium chloride be used to melt the ice and
snow. However, this may cause unavoidable damage to
the shingles. In fact, many shingle manufacturers
warn against this and it may void your warranty.
Ice in gutters and downspouts are virtually
impossible to remove without damage. In many cases,
the gutter system has to be removed from the roof to
allow for water to discharge. Flat roofs whose
drains freeze will trap water on the roof system.
The trapped water may accumulate to levels higher
than the roof flashings, resulting in water leaks.
The downspout needs to be removed and the drain
possibly broken open, so there is discharge.
Skylights covered with ice and snow may cause
leaking because of their "weep holes" being covered.
Internal condensation can't escape, causing water.
Have the snow and ice removed from around the
skylight. Make sure the contractor is aware that
there are skylights, so they don't damage them if
they are buried by snow.
Contact our Home Improvement Specialist today to help you with your home improvement needs.
