Snow looks beautiful on the top of a house, but the ice and slush can lead to leaky roofs, gutters backing up, and sidewalks and stoops becoming very slipper. There are electric-powered devices that plug into the outdoor GFCI outlets on the house that generate enough heat to prevent the formation of damaging ice dams.
There are different methods of preventing ice dams and other snow hazards that develop during the Minnesota winters. Devices that plug in tend to be the most popular because they are affordable and an easy fix. They don’t involve your Minneapolis roofing company having to make major alterations to the home.
Helping You Find Effective Ice Dam Solutions
Plug-in devices typically involve heated cables that are clipped to the inside of gutters so that they can stay flowing during the winter months. The amount of electricity used is typically no more than a 150-watt light bulb.
The cables are attached with clips along the edge of the roof in a zigzag pattern. The heat keeps the ice dams from forming and allows any snow melt to go ahead and flow freely off of the roof and into the gutters so it can be directed away from the house. It is best if these are installed before the weather gets bad.
Effectively Combating The Winter Weather
If you are in a position where ice dams do form or the snow on your roof is very heavy, you can opt for professional ice dam and snow removal so that your roof is relieved of the weight.
For homes with metal roofs, it is sometimes possible for ice to slide off when it starts to melt. This can create a very dangerous situation. To avoid the dangers, you can have snow guards placed along the eaves of the roof. The guards will stop roof avalanches by holding the ice in place until it melts. While this makes being around the exterior of the home safer when there is snow and ice on the roof, it is important to still look and see from the ground how much snow there is on the roof after or during large snow events so that the weight doesn’t become too great on the roof.
Overall, there are many things that your Minnesota roofing contractor can do to ensure your roof performs the way it is supposed to. You will find that there are solutions available that fit practically any budget, thus prolonging the life of the roof.
Contact A Minneapolis Roofing Contractor
One of the best ways to protect your roof is to prevent the damage from occurring in the first place. Ice dams and the heavy weight of snow can cause a significant amount of damage over time or even in the short-term. At First Impressions Exteriors, we can take the steps that you need us to take based on your budget so that you do not have to worry about ice dams. For a free estimate, call us at 612-532-2036 for a free estimate.