Ice damming is one of the most common causes of weather-related damage to the home. And it is the easiest to avoid by sharing these few simple precautionary steps with your client.
Fingers crossed, the worst of the winter is over and spring is around the corner. But it is also the time of year when ice damming is doing its worst – as the freeze/thaw cycle kicks in to high gear with the fluctuating temperatures.
Your clients have no doubt been dutifully following your advice to shovel snow and salt and sand the walkways around their home – but they should also be looking upwards, checking out the roof and eaves troughs (and definitely NOT climbing onto the roof).
Advice is free, but certainly the damage from ice damming can add up to a costly claim.
You can share this simple checklist with your clients:
• Make sure your eaves troughs are clear so water can run through easily;
• Avoid climbing on the roof by using a long-handled metal rake to remove snow;
• Stay away from electrical wires;
• Raise any personal belongings that you have stored in the basement off the floor to prevent potential water damage; and
• Disconnect eaves trough downspouts if connected to a weeping tile system.
A look inside the attic should be in order to check on the condition of the roof from the inside – before a neglected problem turns into a giant claim that can come crashing down on the homeowner. (continued.)
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Some of the things to look for include:
• Ensuring you have proper roof ventilation, as a cool attic during winter months stops the thaw/freeze cycle and eliminates roof damming;
• Removing the bulk of snow off of the roof following a snowstorm, as it not only reduces the potential for ice damming, but removes a lot of weight from the roof. Hiring a professional is recommended; and
• All attic doors located in conditioned spaces should be properly insulated, sealed and weather stripped, and all hidden penetrations (i.e. stack vents, partition walls, electrical chases) should be properly sealed and insulated as well.
The old saying ‘damned if you do and damned if you don’t’ is only half right when it comes to roofs and the damage from winter ice and snow.
Really, the message from brokers this time of year should be: dammed if you don’t.
