Pages

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Prevent Damage caused by the Weight of Ice and Snow

By Therese Goodwint


Its a normal thing to experience heavy rains or snow and wind in North America during winter time. That light fluffy snow can become a very weighty problem when it piles up on your roof. A possible downfall of a roof can be expected if ice and snow will reach the level of unbearable weight. This type of loss is generally covered by your home insurance. However, if your roof is nearing its life expectancy, or is in poor repair, your settlement could be limited.

Insurance companies sometimes limit coverage to a devalued roof instead of the cost that will be incurred for replacement. The damage to the inside of your home will also be covered by most home insurance policies. And if you have to move out, while your home is being repaired, your additional living expense insurance will come into play.

Damages resulted from the heaviness of snow and ice will be under a deductible policy. Therefore, it is imperative that your roof has to be snow-free all the time and well-maintained.

Tips to Keep your Roof Safe in Winter

Keep your roof in good repair. You need to maintain this portion of the house regularly specially during fall season. Gutters have to be cleaned. Water can get trapped in clogged gutters and can form ice dams in the winter. Snow that begins to melt needs to flow properly without restriction; if water will be hindered from flowing in the right direction, it may be redirected to the inner part of your house.

If you want it to be done perfectly, look for a professional who accomplishes snow removal on the roof. Be aware that snow can be so heavy and may weigh hundreds of tons. Three feet of fluffy snow can have a weight of 50lbs/ft. Wet snow can even be heavier. The designs of roofs are not really for this kind of scenario. As a matter of fact, roofs can only accommodate just around one foot of ice on them based on the general designs.

Severe snowstorms can cause damage to roofs and guttering of a home, as well as other damage. When a substantial amount of snow rests on a roofing and guttering system, the weight alone can sometimes cause slight roof cave-ins or water leaks. Gutters may fall after its detachment from the fascia board totally. Anticipate for the formation of ice dams when snow begins to melt and then freezes again. Ice-damming might cause water leaks at the entry portions near a roof edge where gutters are fixed.

Make sure your attic is properly insulated to prevent heat from leaking out through the roof. Through this, melting of snow at a fast rate can be avoided which also prevents possible water leaks into the house and apart from this, heating expenses will also go down. Snow melting, re-solidifying and accumulation of more ice can also be avoided. Remember, ice dams usually develop from the incorrect ventilation of attic and roof areas.

There are some obvious signs that you have issues with your insulation and icicles are one signpost. You should not have long icicles hanging from the roof. Passersby under these ice formations might be in a dangerous situation. These can also bring horrible damage to your house, both in and out.

Having home insurance is a must for you to have peace of mind this winter season. Having insurance would mean avoidance of spending too much for the repair of your roof should it be damaged terribly as this will be part of the coverage.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment