H         ow to take care of your roof in the winter.

Icicles today—Water damage tomorrow, icicles look pretty, But if  they’re hanging from your house in large numbers, It’s usually a sign of trouble. Keeping you roof & gutters clean is very often an ongoing thing, But when the weather turns really cold it’s more important then ever.

In General Houses with icicles aren’t properly ventilated and/or don’t have proper insulation. This creates ice on the roof, forming ice dams which forces water upward under the shingles, causing damage to the roof and your home. Most houses in NH & VT have inclined roofs so the snow just slides off. However, there are occasions when snow accumulates on your roof, and because snow is so heavy it simply must be removed before it does serious damage. Even if you know your roof was built to withstand all that weight, there’s another reason it should be removed. Melting snow can cause ice dams, which means as the snow melts it has nowhere to go but under the shingles and in to your ceilings.

Gutters, during warm weather clogged gutters can cause water to back up into the fascia board and soffit of your home, leading to water damage and rotten wood. In the wintertime, that same back-up is likely to freeze and compound the problem. The slower water drains out of the gutters the easier it will be for them to freeze over. We recommend keeping your downspouts free of debris and make sure the outlets at the bottom of the down spouts are not cover by snow. The best way to clean the gutter runs is by using a scoop. You can make one by cutting down a plastic container (like an antifreeze jug). Keep the jug handle and top and cut away the bottom diagonally. The resulting scoop is just the right size to clean gutters. Remember never get on your roof during the winter always use a ladder. 

Safety Whatever roof rake you use – do not use it near power lines. Even if you’re a dozen feet away. If you’re not in total control of the rake for any reason, its length is such that it could easily tilt over those dozen feet and hit the power lines. Never get on a roof during the winter; it’s a recipe for disaster. Remember shingles become bridle in winter weather. Do not chop or hack at the roof with the rake. It will make the job at hand harder and you take a big chance of damaging the roof.