Residential Roofs in the Philadelphia Area Need Preventative Maintenance Before a Snowfall
Some preventative maintenance for your roof before a snowfall can save you storm damage and money for costly repairs.
Oreland, PA – January 18, 2011 – After a snowfall, melting and flooding are common conditions, especially in the Philadelphia area. The melting and freezing of snow on your roof can cause some major problems for homeowners. The snow on your roof will melt during the day and freeze overnight to create ice in gutters and downspouts and the possibility for leaks.
Depending on the shape of your roof there are different approaches to avoiding some common winter problems.
On a sloped roof, ice damming occurs when the gutters and downspouts freeze and fill up with ice. The melting ice and snow back up behind the ice dam and can create leaks.
There are things you can do ahead of time to stop ice dams and prevent leaks:
Install an ice and water shield to your roof. Ice and water shield is a roofing product that has been on the market for 15 years. This is a watertight membrane that is installed directly to the roof deck three feet up the slope from the gutter. This product prevents leaks from ice dams. Even if your roof is newer than 15 years, it does not mean the roofer installed it.
Clean your gutters and downspouts and make sure underground drains are flowing freely. Remove any debris that is in them. You can also pour hot water into them to create a water flow. Do not use salt; salt is corrosive and can deteriorate the shingle and nails.
Inspect you attic for ventilation. Lack of ventilation causes the snow on your roof to melt faster. On a cold morning (preferably before dawn) when the outside temperature is in the 20′s, look at the ceiling of your attic to see if there is condensation build-up. If you find frost or water droplets on the nails in the ceiling of your attic, then there may be a ventilation issue. In most cases, the attic temperature should be as close to the exterior temperature as possible. Lack of ventilation can also cause damaged wood and mold which can then cause health issues.
Insulate your attic. The heat from your living space migrates into the attic. You should have at least one foot of insulation on the floor of your attic to keep that heat in your living space. Again, your attic should be cold and as close to the exterior temperature as possible.
Clear ice and snow from your roof. There are tools on the market to help a homeowner with this task, such as a snow rake or cutter. However, this is a dangerous and exhausting task and is probably best left to a professional roofer.
Install electrical heat tape to the eave edge or gutter. Consult your electrician to find out about options for installing a heated wire to melt the ice build-up. Be sure that this is connected to a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) circuit.
There are no safe ways to stop the leaks from an ice dam once it has started, but these tips will help prevent the possibility of ice dams happening in the future.
Snow build-up on flat roofs is a safety problem. Each winter, after a major snow storm, there are news stories about flat roofs that collapse. One cubic foot of snow weighs about nine pounds. This means that the typical Philadelphia row home with three feet of snow would have over ten tons of snow sitting on it.
Do not to walk around on your flat roof without removing the snow first. Shovel your way onto the roof. Be careful of skylights covered in snow. Hundreds of roofers fall through skylights per year. When there is snow covering the skylight it is much easier to fall through.
Use rock salt around the drain areas to keep them free of ice.
Pour hot water down the roof drain to clear the ice.
Call a qualified roofer to remove the snow for you. Safety should be your top priority.
About Russell Roofing:
Since 1992, Russell Roofing, a Philadelphia Roofing Company, has built its business on solid principals and honest professionalism. With their focus on quality, Russell Roofing serves a commercial roofing and residential roofing clientele while maintaining a reputation as an innovator within the roofing industry. Their focus on safety, quality, and customer service has made them one of the top 100 roofers in the United States. “If it’s Russell, it’s Right. . . guaranteed!”
About the Author
Ron Hall is the author of this article on Philadelphia Residential Roofing. Find more information about Roof Repair In Philadelphia here.
Homemade Roof Snow Removal Tool Using PVC Pipe
|
|
Sno Brum Original Snow Removal Tool with Telescoping Handle $29.95 The SNO BRUM offers consumers a way to quickly sweep snow off a vehicle and away from the user. Perfect for sport utility vehicles and minivans where reaching the across the width of the windshield with a typical snow brush is often challenging. With the SNO BRUM, drivers can easily push even heavy, wet snow off the roof, hood and trunk without scratching the paint or harming the finish of any veh… |
|
|
Suncast SF1850 22-Inch Big Scoop Snow Shovel with Wear Strip $34.48 Big Gray Scoop/Float, No Stick Graphite Blade, Blade Size 22-Inch x 28-Inch x 5-Inch, 1 Piece 1.125-Inch Diameter Steel Handle, Handle Collapses For Easy Storage…. |
|
|
Garelick 89421 21-Foot Aluminum Snow Roof Rake With 24-Inch Blade $56.41 21′ Long Roof Snow Rake, Extra Large Blade 7″ x 24″, With Poly Roller Glides, All Lightweight Aluminum…. |
|
|
Oxo Good Grips 17014 Twister Snow Brush/Scraper $16.95 Remove snow and ice from the car windshield on frosty mornings with this handy combo tool from OXO Good Grips. Good Grips is dedicated to creating tools that reduce stress on wrists and hands. Use this lengthy brush/scraper to can clean a large portion of the windshield without excessive stretching. A clever, push-button, twist function turns the brush 90 degrees for flexibility when sweeping heav… |
|
|
21′ Shingle Saver Snow Rake (Natural) (21′H x 24W x 5D) $45.57 The 21′ Shingle Saver Snow Rake keeps your roof in tip-top shape during the winter! This snow tool features a sturdy 4-section aluminum handle to reach up to 21′ – great for years of reliable rooftop snow removal! 4 Sections Reaches 21 Feet Rubber Squeegee Blade Made in the USA! Assembly level/degree of difficulty: Easy. Made in America… |
|
|
24 Snow Squeegee (Red) (66H x 24W x 2D) $99.00 Keep your roof in tip-top shape during the winter with a 24″ Snow Squeegee! This snow rake features a powder-coated aluminum handle with wrap-around bracing for years or reliable rooftop snow removal. Roof Snow Tool 66″ Pole Rubber Squeegee Blade Made in the USA! Assembly level/degree of difficulty: Easy. Made in America… |
|
|
Audiovox SUVA2 SIRIUS Satellite Radio Magnetic Roof Mount Antenna $24.99 Sla 12v 18ahupg 85977/d5745 sealed lead acid batteries (12v; 18 ah; ub12180). Specs: used in ups backup systems, spotlights, flashlights, exit lighting & other equipment; 12v; 18 ah; ub12180. Refurb: n. Returnable: y. Warranty: one year……. |
|
|
Sno Rake – Model #103 – 12 Rake/30 Wood Handle $20.99 The SNO RAKE offers consumers a way to quickly sweep snow off a vehicle and away from the user. Perfect for sport utility vehicles and minivans where reaching the across the width of the windshield with a typical snow brush is often challenging. With the SNO RAKE, drivers can easily push even heavy, wet snow off the roof, hood and trunk without scratching the paint or harming the finish of any veh… |
|
|
Propane Torch Kit – 500,000 BTU $29.99 Burns weeds and stumps! Heats roof materials, water and sand. Thaws pipes, heats motors, melts ice and snow. With safety valve. Max. BTU: 500,000, Hose Length (ft.): 6, Handle Length (in.): 23 1/4, Automatic Igniter: No, Burner Head: Single, Regulator Included: No, Tank Included: No, Min. Propane Cylinder Size (lbs.): 20… |
|
|
Sno Brum Sno Pro (Snow Broom) Professional Grade Snow Removal Tool – Guaranteed No Scratch, As Seen On Tv $16.99 The Sno Brum Pro molded head is made of industrial grade polyethylene foam that endures harsh conditions and hundreds of vehicle clearings. SNO-PRO is approved for use on Class A finishes and received the highest ratings possible from an independent testing lab for non-abrasiveness, freeze resistance and durability. Manufactured with standard threads, SNO-PRO comes with our sturdy handle with die-… |