From hail to heavy winds, there are a number of environmental elements that can harm a roofing structure on a residential home during the winter season. Not only is it important to have the roof inspected and prepped at the end of the fall season, but also it is important for homeowners to prepare the roof for ice dams that can occur. With the help of a Brookline roofing professional, there are several ways to prevent ice dams until spring arrives.
The most important step to take to prevent ice dams in cold weather is to ensure that the attic has proper air flow. Cool air should be running through the space both day and night to prevent the shingles or tiles from becoming too cold on the roof. The attic can also have more insulation added to prevent the attic from dropping to freezing temperatures. It's important to avoid heating the attic because this can cause too much meltwater to develop instead of allowing the snow to melt at a gradual rate.
A professional can also inspect the current insulation that is installed to determine if it is damaged from moisture or needs to be replaced. The attic insulation level can also be measured by checking the depth to ensure that it is there is 12 to 14 inches of cellulose or fiberglass.
A roofing expert from Capital Construction of Brookline MA would be happy to answer any question you have about siding or masonry.
More insulation should be added if the insulation is less than 8 inches deep. This means that it needs to be filled in more, especially around the rafters or joists. This will prevent gaps from developing to ensure that the air is sealed during the year.
Another important step is to remove snow that begins to pile up on the roof each week. Ice dams are known to form due to snow that isn't cleared off the building and begins to solidify over time. It's recommended that homeowners use an ice rake to gently scrape off the snow, starting from the edge of the roof up. Three to 4 inches of snow should be removed at a time to prevent damage. Removing the oldest snow first will also prevent too much weight from being placed on the roof due to frozen ice that begins to form.
The hatch should also have a cap to seal off the attic to prevent heat from escaping the building. Weather-stripped caps can be used to prevent drafts with a foil faced foam board that will stay put with a bit of aluminum tape.
