Good morning! Just popping in to say hello. Been lacking a little on posting over the winter but my fingers have been frozen... We have some warmer weather on the way (not really that warm) but now would be a great time for you to look at your home a little closer. As we start to see some of the snow melt, it would be a great idea to check the amount of snow on your roof. As temperatures fluctuate from day to night, you may notice that you are getting some ice build up by your eves, which is called ice damming! HERE IS THE CAUSE: Ice and snow build up on the roofs of buildings, the flatter the roof, the more snow and ice build up that can occur. Warmth from the sun or attic area will melt the snow and ice build up. As the build up of snow and ice melts it runs down the roof towards the gutter. When the water reaches the roof edge and gutter it can re-freeze due to colder conditions at the outer edge of the roof. HERE IS THE DAMAGE THAT COULD OCCUR: The first signs of ice dam problems will be along the gutters of the building. You have most likely observed gutters that are overloaded with ice and have beautiful icicles hanging along the entire gutter. The icicles may look pretty but this will be your first hint of potential damage. The excess weight of the ice can pull the gutter away from the building as well as bending or completely breaking the gutter itself. Next the water that builds up behind the ice dam can back up under the roof shingles. It can work its way through the underlying felt and around the roofing nails. This water will now be in contact with the roof sheathing itself and over a period of time damage or warp the sheathing. The water will then work its way into the building itself damaging ceilings and walls as well as potentially damaging the buildings trusses. There are some great references on preventing ice damming and google is a great source to find these... 1 other thing to check that would be a great benefit is your sump pump. Be sure it is working, and also check the pipe on the outside of your home to be sure there is no ice build up and the water can exit properly... These are just a few tips on keeping your home dry as we begin to see spring temperatures arrive. I know this was a long read, however I hope you took the time to look it over to be sure you have no unexpected repairs this spring. As always, I look forward to hearing from you if you or someone you know is in the market to buy or sell this spring, as I would love to help out in any way I can... Have a great day.....
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 14:55:10 +0000
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