Roof Repair in New Milford; Ice Dam Prevention

While we cannot control the weather, we can surely take precautions to avoid roof repair in New Milford. Winter is a particularly hard season for our house’s crowning jewel because heavy snow and ice may damage roof materials. Ultimately, your home can be damaged too if necessary safeguards are not taken.

Ice dams can form on your roof when melting snow slides down it during the day. Then at night, it re-freezes at the eaves when temperatures drop. The ice eventually accumulates along the roofline, preventing later-arriving water from draining correctly. Ice that compounds with each thaw-freeze cycle can endanger your home.

It occurs more commonly on sloped roofs and, of course, in colder areas. However, because New Jersey is near the water, there is always the possibility of snow, therefore ice dams can be an issue. However, there are several things you can do to eliminate the hazard.

Keeping your roof toasty (despite sounding like a good idea) will not prevent an ice dam from forming. The easiest strategy to counteract the problem is to keep your roof at a steady cool temperature. Proper ventilation and attic insulation are both important preventive strategies. With the roof at a constant but still chilly temperature, snow melts at its own speed and in a more regulated manner.

If you live in a cold climate, clear the snow from your roof with a broom or a rake. Taking a broom and cleaning the snow that you can safely reach off your roof can go a long way in preventing ice dams.

Roofs aren’t something that we can control very much. But when we buy a new roof or build a new house, we should think about materials that let the snow slide off easily. You should also consider installing a membrane beneath your shingles to guard the underside of the roof from leaks. These are both excellent tips that will make your roof strong and look fantastic for years.