Northeast Gutters and Remodeling

With the winter season in full swing, one of the main problems that many homeowners face is snow piling up on their roofing system. This can be a pressing issue, especially if you have an old structure, since your support system might not be strong enough to handle the weight of the roof and snow, combined. This is why it’s important to prevent ice dams and snow buildup.

Preventing Ice Dams

Ice dams are a ridge of ice that forms through refrozen melted snow that accumulates on the eavestrough of your roof and grows from there. They can also be spotted near your home’s skylights and roof vents, where the two roofs meet. Ice dams form due to poor attic insulation and ventilation. This is a reaction that sparks from the heat that escapes from your attic.

This causes the snow on top to melt and then freeze once it hits 32 degrees. The melting and refreezing causes ice dams to form, which let water pool on your roof once winter passes. This issue needs to be addressed with snow and ice removal immediately to prevent damage to your roofing system. Be sure to contact your local roofing company for professional assistance on this matter.

Prevent Excess Weight

Another reason it’s important to clear your roof of snow and ice is to take off the stress that it applies on your roof. Keep in mind that snow and ice dams can add more weight to your roof. To put this into perspective, around 10 inches of snow can apply around 1,000 pounds of force onto your roof. Ice is even heavier since a cubic foot can weigh at around 57 pounds, which means that one dam could weigh more than 1,000 pounds.

Northeast Gutters and Remodeling is your trusted provider of residential roofing replacement, repair and installment services. Give us a call at (860) 899-7878. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.