Written by Article Originally Published on Showroom411.com
The first thing I want to talk about is something that can be done prior to the winter coming especially if you are having a new roof installed. That would be to have ice and water shield also know as ice guard, installed around the perimeter of the outside of your roof and up the valleys.
When installed at the bottom of the roof, the material will extend up 3′ from the edge of the roof by the gutters. When ice and snow sit on the roof, the temperature of the attic space many times will be warmer then the outside of the roof and that causes the ice and snow to melt. When this happens, the water that results from the melting ice and snow can get trapped under the remaining ice and snow.
Some of the water runs off into and over the gutters and that is what causes the ice sickles to form. The rest of the water that is trapped can actually travel up the roof and if there is no ice and water shield, the water can get under the shingles and then find cracks, nail holes and seams in the roof sheathing and then cause leaks to penetrate into your home through the ceiling and sometimes down the inside of the exterior walls.
With the ice guard installed, it will help prevent this problem and help keep you home protected from these common types of leaks.
Another thing you can do is install roof and gutter cables to help prevent ice sickles, lots of ice and snow build up and roof leaks.
Even in below freezing weather, snow on the roof will often thaw because of heat from the sun and heat loss from the house through the roof. As this melted snow reaches the roof overhang it refreezes. Here there is no heat loss so the roof surface is much colder. As this melted snow refreezes again and again on the roof overhang, an ice dam is formed. Soon water can back up under shingles, and leak into the house.
One brand of these cables comes from EASYHEAT® ADKS. These roof de-icing cables can help prevent water and ice damage by providing a clear path for melting water. The cables keep roof edges, gutters and downspouts ice-free. The versatile design adapts to most roof and gutter configurations.
It’s not those big icicles that do the real damage; it’s the ice you don’t see that backs up in gutters and under shingles. When the ice melts it can really do a number on repair costs.
Don’t forget about roof ventilation as being a very important part in all this because it can help keep the attic at the right temperature to help prevent ice and snow from melting on your roof and then running into the home. There are many different types of venting include roof mounted vents and turbines and ridge vents that can be installed on the roof peaks.
I prefer to use a combination of these. Remember that you also need vented soffits or overhangs, because the air will come in through them and then flow through the attic and expel out your roof vents. This is what keeps your attic breathing properly, keeping it more cool in the summer and at the right temperature in the winter.
Click on the following links to help you find out more about what you can do to help your home stay safe and leak free.
Roofing and Venting How-To Articles
If you still need more help you can always Ask Rick.
By Rick Maselli Founder and Editor of Showroom411.com
