East Meadow Roofing: Article About Winterizing Your Roof
Floor joists are wooden slates that are part of the structure that helps to hold up the weight of the building. When these are installed in the attic, the floor joists may be visible if a floor was not installed over them.
Question and answer courtesy of East Meadow roofing experts: What are ice dams and why are they dangerous?Ice dams form when snow on the roof melts and turns into ice at the eaves. Most ice dams are caused by hot air leaks in the attic. Ice dams can be incredibly dangerous as they can cause an accumulation of snow and ice on the roof. If the weight becomes too great, there is a risk of a roof collapse.
As with any structural element of your home, your roof requires regular maintenance to keep it structurally sound. This means that you should be performing routine inspections and being on the lookout for any indications that your roof may need some repairs. However, this is much more difficult to do during the winter when the snow starts to fall and simply does not stop. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you take some time to winterize your home. While most homeowners can do this, you can also call on your trusted East Meadow roofing contractor to ensure that your roof is truly ready for a brutal season.
Before you take any steps to winterize your home, you should perform a normal roof inspection. Be on the lookout for areas on your roof where the shingles are missing or are broken. These should be replaced as soon as possible. The weaker areas of your roof, such as the valleys and peaks, should be investigated to ensure that there is no damage that could lead to leaks. Finally, if you have asphalt shingles, you can also look at the ground beneath the downspout to see if there is any gravel present. If there is gravel present, your shingles may be worn out and may need to be replaced.
One of the first things that should be done is the elimination of any vegetation that hangs over or near the roof. When the snow begins to fall, it can accumulate on both the roof and the vegetation.
Have a question regarding Supreme skylights or gutters and leaders? Please ask a roofing professional from Long Island Roofing of East Meadow.
Especially when high winds are present, branches and limbs could come down hard on your roof, adding to the overall weight and putting your structure under stress.
Next, you should perform an inspection for any pests that may have become unwanted guests. Termites and carpenter ants can make quick work of your wooden substructure and threatening its integrity. Additionally, squirrels and other rodents can also create nests in your attic or wall spaces, causing damage that can be incredibly expensive to fix.
Your next step should be to inspect and clean out your gutters. During the worst of the winter weather, water may freeze on your gutters and form ice dams, which could result in a large amount of snow accumulation on your roof. By ensuring that your gutters and downspouts are free and clear, the water is less likely to form an ice dam on the edge of your roof.
Finally, you should check your attic's insulation. This will keep more of the heat in your living space and prevent it from escaping to the attic and through the roof. The insulation should be evenly spread against the length of the space and should rise past the floor joists. Not only will this keep your energy costs down as you aren't paying to heat the attic, but you'll also prevent the formation of ice dams.
