Keeping Roofline And Gutters Clear
 

In winter months keeping your roofline and gutters clear of snow and ice is very important. If ice buildup goes unnoticed it can lead to significant damage to your home. Ice dams can form on your roof when snow that is not removed thaws then refreezes, expanding and in some cases freezing under the shingles. This ice then re-melts when it warms up and can cause severe damage to the ceilings and interior walls of your home. Removing the ice and snow from your gutters and roof edges will allow the snow and ice to run off the roof. Call or email Millennium Landscape & Lawncare Inc. for a free estimate.

Ice Damming

What is "ice dam" and what causes it?
Ice damming occurs when melting snow runs down the surface of a roof and re-freezes. As run-off re-freezes, the ice builds up and begins to dam the subsequent run-off, causing it to pool. Unfortunately, shingles are designed to shed water with the help of gravity and they don’t perform well against the standing water. Some of the pooled water finds its way under shingles to hidden seams and fastener holes. Some of it re-freezes under the tabs and lifts the shingles, literally opening a floodgate.
The phenomenon is caused by warm air in the attic space, heating the undersurface of the roof deck, melting snow. Run-off makes its way down the slope of the roof and eventually comes in contact with the deck over the eaves -- which is not exposed to the heat from the attic. It is here the ice begins to form. A heavy freezing rain can also trigger this cycle even when snow is not present.
Additionally, water that reaches the gutters may freeze before the draining at the drop outlet. This is especially likely to happen if the gutters and downspouts are full of debris.

What are the warning signs?

Aside from leaks, stains, and damaged ceilings or walls, there are several tell-tale signs that ice dams have occurred or may be imminent:

• Large icicles hanging from the gutters during cold-snaps following snow storms are an indication that internal heat is melting the snow from beneath the roof deck. This is especially so if the icicles form on the north, where the sun is a stranger.
• A thick blanket of snow down slope of bare shingles points toward trouble. This is especially indicative of trouble if on the north side or during a period of overcast skies.
• Water dripping from the soffit panel is a hint that a dam has already formed. Stains, peeling paint, or soft spots on the soffits are something to look for year ‘round.