If You’ve Got Icicles, You’ve Got A Problem
Icicles Create Problems
Is Your Roof Safe?
Winter weather in the Midwest is fraught with hazards! Icicles hanging from your gutters indicate a drainage problem and can lead to roof and property damage.
Generally, icicles are caused by a leaking gutter or a clogged gutter that does not allow water to drain properly. The water then spills over the side and refreezes on its way down. You’ll typically find slippery, icy patches under these dripping zones. Of course, slips and fall hazards are a concern, but icicles can also break off and cause damage to people or property below. In addition, the weight of built-up snow and ice can cause damage to gutters and siding.
Icicles Hanging From Your Roof Can Mean:
- Ice Dams
- Roof Damage
- Safety Risk
As you can see in the illustration above, ice dams can cause roof leaks. Since the ice dam does not allow water (melted snow) to drain off the roof, it backs up, forming a pool that can seep up and under shingles. Shingle roofs are designed to shed water, so water backing up onto the roof creates problems. As the water seeps under shingles, it drips into insulation and drywall. Undetected, this can lead to mold, but larger, obvious leaks also require costly repairs.
Even in cold temperatures, heat rising from inside the building contributes to meltwater on the roof. Proper insulation can help alleviate this factor, but it is tough to completely eliminate.
What Can Prevent Ice Damming?
Heat tape can be installed in gutters & downspouts, which aims to prevent ice from forming, building up, and creating an ice dam. The key to this solution is keeping an open flow for snow melt to run off the roof through intentional drains and gutters.
Another possible solution is roof raking. The goal is to clear the bulk of snow cover from about 5 or 6 feet up, to the edge of the roof allowing snow melt to reach the gutters and drain away. This can be dangerous and must be done with a safety plan. Use proper tools, do not scrape all of the snow down to the roof system (leave some snow), and do not rake alone. Or call a roofing professional for help!
Let Our Professional Roofing Team Help
Call the Great Lakes Roofing office near you to set up a free roofing consultation.
If your roof needs snow removal or heat tape installation, we’re here to help!
Commercial roofing solutions come in many shapes and variations. Let us help create a solution for your roof.
Call the experts at Great Lakes Roofing Corporation at 800-871-5151.
