While it might be beautiful to see a row of houses that have long icicles hanging from their roof lines, it can be incredibly damaging to their homes. This picturesque winter scene means that they need to make some changes to keep their roofs from sustaining any damage this winter. Ice dams are a problem that plague many homes during the snow season. Nickerson Roofing is here to explain how these ice dams form and what can be done to eliminate the problem.
What Are Ice Dams Caused By?
The buildup of ice on your gutters or ice dams can cause significant damage to a roof. These harmful chunks of ice form when the air inside your attic is much warmer than the air outside is. It causes the snow to start to melt and accumulate in the gutters where the air is cold again and the water freezes. The ice is extremely heavy and can cause issues like a leaky roof if you don’t keep the problem from happening over and over again throughout the winter.
How Do You Fix an Ice Dam Problem?
There are a few different approaches that can be taken to help avoid ice dams on your roof and gutters.
– Heat Trace Cables: If you have certain area of your roof that you struggle with keeping ice dams off of, you can have heat trace cables installed there to help avoid them. This can be a good solution to keep your roof safe from dangerous ice dams forming on the edge of it by keeping the surface warm and keeping snow off of it.
– Metal Roof Skirting: Another viable option to keep ice from forming on your roof is to have metal roof skirting installed. The slick metal doesn’t allow snow to accumulate like other types of roofing materials. It is important to make sure any necessary repairs are made to the roof before the skirting is installed though.
– Snow Removal: If the other options don’t fit into your budget, you can call on professionals to remove the snow from your roof when there is a large snowstorm. This is a dangerous thing to attempt to do on your own and should always be left up to professionals. Getting up on your roof puts you in danger if you don’t have the experience and the right equipment to get the job done safely.
Roof Repair, Replacement & More in Truckee, Mystic, Tahoe City, Kings Beach & The North Lake Tahoe Basin of California
If you have a problem with ice dams on your roof, it is important that you turn to the professionals at Nickerson Roofing to help prepare your roof for the winter months. We will work with you to determine the best solution to your ice dam prevention needs. It is our goal to keep your roof protected from the effects of severe weather this winter season. We offer several different solutions to keep your roof safe. Call us today!
