Protect Your Roof – How to De-Ice Your Roof

Protect Your Roof – How to De-Ice Your Roof

Winter storms usually bring more than snow; they also cover your walkways, driveways, and roof with dangerous ice that you will need to get rid of safely to protect your home. If you have ever taken a close look at your roof during winter, you might have noticed a thick layer of icicles hanging off it.

Sometimes, you might even notice a thick ridge of snow and ice running along your shingles or eaves. These ridges of ice are commonly referred to as ice dams. While this might appear beautiful to you, if you don’t take prompt action to get rid of the ice, it could destroy your roof leading to expensive roof repair or even replacement.

What Is the Harm in Ice?

You need to keep in mind that when ice forms on your doors, windows, or eaves of your house roof, you are facing a wide range of potential problems. When the water freezes, it expands, and this expansion is so powerful that it can even split a rock. If you ignore the presence of ice in your home, this might happen to your foundation.

Ice buildup also leads to the formation of ice dams in your attic that could lead to roof leaks as the ice melts away. Constant melting and refreezing of ice can also cause large icicles to form in your home, and when these icicles break loose, they can damage your property or even injure people.

Ways to De-Ice Your Roof

The best way to ensure that you avoid all ice-related problems in your home this winter is to take the right action at the right time to de-ice your roof. However, with tons of products available in home stores, choosing the right product to de-ice your roof can be a real challenge. Luckily, there are lots of ways that you can use to protect your home against ice during winter.

One of the best ways of dealing with the problem of ice in your home is by installing heat cables before winter sets in. These cables are specifically designed to prevent ice dams before they occur. Heat cables are electric and are usually installed on your roof in a zigzag pattern over-insulated parts such as the garage or eaves. You can even request your general contractor to install the cables in your gutters.

A snow rake sometimes referred to as a roof rake, can also help you scrape snow and ice off your roof manually. One of the biggest advantages of using a snow rake is that it pushes you to deal with the ice before it turns into a huge buildup. If you are always vigilant and you want to get out there after a big snowfall too clear the mess, the snow rake is an excellent idea.

Lastly, there are also lots of de-icing chemicals that work well. All you have to do is purchase the chemical, lay or spray it over a thick layer of ice and wait for it to melt. However, the most critical thing to consider while using chemicals to de-ice is whether they are going to damage your roof. While purchasing such chemicals, you need to remember the fact that the least expensive and most effective de-icing chemicals are highly corrosive and shouldn’t be used on your roof.

Feel Free to Call a Professional

While it is okay to conduct certain tasks by yourself, it is also good to note that every year; hundreds of untrained homeowners sustain injuries for venturing onto their roofs to get rid of ice and snow. Some homeowners even end up damaging their own roofs for using ineffective solutions.

To avoid all these problems, make sure that you work with a professional and experienced roof contractor in your area while handling any roof-related tasks. Crown Remodeling is your leading roof contractor in Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. We are experienced and care about our client needs. And since we care, we take time to do things right the first time. Contact us today and let us serve you.

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