Dealing with ice dams and other winter weather hazards

Dealing with ice dams and other winter weather hazards -

For owners in the country, the damage to the roof or snow and ice dam leakage snow subject to common winter threats to your home. How do you know if you have ice dams? Wikipedia has a good picture of an ice dam forming on a slate roof. Essentially, if you have large icicles hanging from your roof, you probably have an ice dam problem. The stalactites are a symptom, not the underlying problem, which is usually one of the insulation. How Stuff Works offers a pretty good non-technical explanation of what ice dams are and why they occur.
If you have ice dams on your home, you need to approach them with a two-pronged strategy:
First, you must get rid of ice dams and to minimize damage immediate
Your best bet is to hire an experienced professional to do this - it can be a risky task .. Some people want to go out and chop off ice, but it is not a good idea to be the climbing on snow and ice from roofs or use ladders on slippery ground. Also, using the wrong tools to remove snow or ice from your roof pieces can cause damage to your shingles or your gutters. Not to mention the damage to you: flying chunks of ice can be very heavy and sharp. Many people also use salt or other chemical concoctions to deal with ice dams, a less-than-ideal "fix" because the chemicals can damage or discolor your roof and can leach into the ground, damaging plants and greenery. If you have a low roof, one of the most common ways that people treat ice dams is buying a roof rake designed and remove snow directly above the ice dam. Again, this can pose risks to you and your roof.
Second, you need to diagnose the underlying problem and take steps to prevent ice dams from forming.
Although ice dams can sometimes occur due to freezing rain, more often than not they are a symptom of a problem of isolation that must be addressed, as there is d other problems that the ice dams that can occur as a moisture buildup that could lead to rot, mildew or mold. Not to mention that with poor insulation, heating costs are almost literally going through the roof. While there are a number of products that can treat symptoms and prevent ice dams, the best way to protect the value of your home would be to get the expertise of a sealing, insulation, or conservation contractor of energy to diagnose and correct the problem root. Builder and consultant Paul Frisette offers his thoughts on why ice dams are formed and how to avoid ice dams by treating the cause, not just the symptoms.
ice dams and the owners and rental insurance
The Insurance Information Institute examines what is covered and what is not in terms of water damage. "Owners standard renters insurance provides coverage for burst pipes, wind driven rain and damage resulting from ice dams on your roof "III also offers this basic useful rule:" in general, water which comes from the top down, like rain, is covered by a standard home insurance policy, while the water that comes from the bottom up, like a river in flood, is covered by an insurance policy separate flood "when in doubt about your coverage, call your agent. - which is what we are here to
snow loads and other hazards to public and commercial buildings
commercial and public buildings with flat roofs are sensitive! other winter woes. In addition to the risk of ice dams, flat-roofed buildings can be damaged or cut a deep snowpack. Deep snow followed by heavy rain can be particularly dangerous, especially for older buildings. One of our insurance partners, Utica National, published a risk management consulting practice on the weather and the harsh winter roofs. The board includes general guidelines to help estimate the weight of snow.

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