Every season comes with challenges, especially when it comes to roofing. But winter probably is the trickiest season for roof repair and maintenance. Ice and snow can create a lot of problems for your roof that can lead to further damage. At Pro Exteriors, we know that New England winters can be pretty severe and that you want to do everything you can to protect your home and family. A question many roofing contractors receive this time of year is whether or not you should remove the snow from your roof.
Here’s what we think as roofing contractors about removing snow from your roof.
The Benefits
Snow is surprisingly heavy when it builds up. If enough settles on your roof, your home could experience structural damage. The worst thing that could happen is that your roof might collapse. That will cause significant damage to your home and property and could injure anyone who lives in your house. Ice dams are also a serious concern. They can cause leaks, which leads to water damage or even mold and mildew growth. That results in some troublesome home repairs and can put your family at risk of serious health problems. Heavy chunks of ice and snow can also come crashing down, damaging your property and potentially injuring someone.
Safe Methods
There are many ways to get snow off your roof, but you want to make sure the method you use is safe for your roof and for you. The most common way is to use a roof rake. This is a long too that allows you to reach the snow on your roof from the ground. You do, however, want to make sure that you don’t damage your shingles or gutters.There are also preventative measures you can take. There are de-icing products that you can apply to your roof before it snows, similar to the treatments we put on roads ahead of icy weather. The de-icer will help to melt the ice or snow as it hits your roof.
Pro Exteriors | Roofing Contractors
If you choose to remove snow from your roof, you always want to be sure that you are being safe. You should always bring in professional roofing contractors to do anything you’re not confident that you can safely do yourself.