Your roof works hard to protect you and your family from the elements. Will it, however, be able to withstand the rigors of another Bronx winter?
The winter months are a difficult time for many homeowners in the Bronx. There’s always the potential of unexpected repairs because of roof winter damage when ice and snow build up on your roof. In addition, the cold weather can cause an ice dam to form on your flat roofs, which will lead to water leaking into your home. The good news is that by hiring a professional Bronx roofing contractor to properly remove ice and snow from your roof before damage occurs, you may prevent costly repairs.
Here’s how to keep your roof in good shape during the winter.
Causes of Roof Damage
The effects of winter weather on your home can be severe. Some roof repairs are inexpensive, but others might cost thousands of dollars. For example, repairing a shingle roof will cost around $575, while replacing an asphalt roof due to ice and snow damage will cost up to $6,000.
You should be aware of the following issues:
Snow Load
The accumulation of ice and snow on your roof does not take long. This extra weight can quickly damage roof gutters and shingles and cause structural damage if left unattended for an extended period. In addition, poor roof drainage or construction can exacerbate the problem, resulting in an over-stressed roof that begins to creak, leak, and droop the ceiling.
Water Leaks
Water runoff can occur as ice and snowmelt due to warmer temperatures and heat from your home’s interior. Water can soak through shingles and into the roof structure, causing minor leaks in the attic and insulation damage.
Ice Dams
Ice dams are caused by inconsistent roof temperatures caused by insufficient ventilation. Warm air from your attic heats the underside of your roof, making the snow and ice melt that has accumulated above it. It can swiftly re-freeze when melted ice and snow are trapped, forming ice dams along roof edges, downspouts, and gutters. These dams can hinder the flow of melting snow, resulting in water pooling on the roof and shingle damage. In addition, water that has accumulated in your attic can seep down into your living rooms and through the ceilings.
How to Get Rid of Ice Dams Fast
Using a hammer, chisel, or shovel to break up ice dams is harmful to your roof—and dangerous for you. And sprinkling salt on them will injure your plants more than the ice. So in the absence of praying for warmer weather, we offer the following stop-gap remedies.
Blow in Cold Air
Bring a box fan into the attic and direct it toward the roof’s underside, where water is leaking. The water will be stopped in its tracks by this concentrated blast of chilly air. It’ll stop the leak in a matter of minutes.
Rake It
While standing safely on the ground, remove snow with a long-handled aluminum roof rake. A rake with wheels can quickly modify your roof’s exterior temperature without damaging the shingles.
De-icing Methods
After the dam has developed, you can also use a pantyhose to mitigate the damage. Use a calcium chloride ice melter to fill the leg of an old pair of stockings. Place the hose on the roof so that it crosses the ice dam and extends over the gutter.
If needed, press it into place using a long-handled garden rake or hoe. The calcium chloride will ultimately melt through the snow and ice, allowing water to drain into gutters or down the roof.
Following that is a list of long-term solutions to assist you in permanently eliminate ice jams.
Permanent Fixes for Ice Dams
In theory, getting rid of ice dams for good is as simple as keeping the entire roof at the same temperature as the eaves. Then, increase ventilation, add insulation, and seal off any air leaks that could warm the roof’s underside.
You may enjoy dam-free winters and save energy by addressing the following frequent problems, which are listed in order of importance:
- Ventilate Eaves And Ridge. Cold air is circulated throughout the roof thanks to a ridge vent and continuous soffit vents. The apertures in both the ridge and soffit vents should have the same size, with at least one square foot of opening for every 300 square feet of attic floor. Install baffles at the eaves to keep the airflow from the soffit vents free.
- Cap the Hatch. Unsealed attic hatches or whole-house fans allow a lot of heat to escape. Weatherstripping caps made of foil-faced foam board held together with aluminum tape are used to cover them.
- Exhaust to the Outside. Exhaust to the Outside is a term used to describe the process of removing waste to ensure that the ducts connecting the kitchen, bathroom, and dryer vents all lead to the outdoors via the roof or walls, not the soffit.
- Add Insulation. More attic floor insulation keeps the heat where it belongs: in the attic. To find how much insulation your attic needs, check with your local building department.
- Install Sealed Can Lights. Recessed lights from the past emit large plumes of heat cannot be insulated without posing a fire risk. Replace them with insulated sealed “IC” fittings.
- Flash Around Chimneys. L-shaped steel flashing, held in place with unbroken beads of fire-stop sealant, fills the gap between the chimney and the house framing. It is not fired safely to use canned spray foam or insulation.
- Seal and Insulate Ducts. Apply fiber-reinforced mastic to the HVAC and exhaust ducts’ joints. R-5 or R-6 foil-faced fiberglass should be used to cover them completely.
- Caulk Penetrations. It would help if you used a fire a fire-stop sealant around electrical lines and vent pipes. Look for areas where the light shines up from below or where dirt from passing air has turned the insulation black.
Contact a qualified Bronx roofing contractor to avoid roof problems this winter like our roofing company. We at TCI Roofing Repair Contractor Company Bronx, NYC have cared for all roofing needs in the Bronx area for more than 20 years. We make sure we don’t miss anything during your roof inspection. We’ll do everything we can to make this winter season as stress-free as possible for you. So get in touch with us right away!
