Will Your Roof Cost You Big Money?

Removing heavy snow from your roof can prevent costly water damage to your roof, walls and ceilings. But unless you can do it safely, don't jeopardize your well-being by trying to remove it yourself. Leave it to a professional roofing contractor.

Water leaks from ice and snow are caused by interior heat from the house. Water from this melting is trapped and creates an ice dam on the roof, gutters and downspouts. The water then takes the path of least resistance under the roof system, or sideways and through flashings, which were not designed for ponded water. When this happens, interior water damage can occur.

Some roofing contractors may suggest that rock salt or calcium chloride be used to melt the ice and snow. However, this may cause unavoidable damage to the shingles. In fact, many shingle manufacturers warn against this and it may void your warranty.

Ice in gutters and downspouts are virtually impossible to remove without damage. In many cases, the gutter system has to be removed from the roof to allow for water to discharge. Flat roofs whose drains freeze will trap water on the roof system. The trapped water may accumulate to levels higher than the roof flashings, resulting in water leaks. The downspout needs to be removed and the drain possibly broken open, so there is discharge.

Skylights covered with ice and snow may cause leaking because of their "weep holes" being covered. Internal condensation can't escape, causing water. Have the snow and ice removed from around the skylight. Make sure the contractor is aware that there are skylights, so they don't damage them if they are buried by snow.

If you are looking for a Dekalb County roofing company please call us today at 815-754-7663 or complete our online request form.

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