Month: December 2022

Even in South Carolina, we can get winter weather severe enough to leave behind a trail of treacherous ice. The question is, what should you do? Is deicing necessary? Protecting your roof is a priority, especially in the winter. Here’s what you need to know about winter ice, what to do about it, and the advantages of deicing your roof.

 

What Ice Does to Your Roof

 

When the temperatures drop, and the humidity rises, you’ll get ice during the winter months. Ice can take a toll on your landscaping and driving conditions, but it can also compromise your roof.

 

• Cracks and pre-existing damage – water can seep into existing cracks and holes, and then when the cold weather moves in, that water freezes and causes expansion. This worsens the damage and increases the chance of leaks once the ice melts.
• Ice dams – when the water from your roof freezes in the process of running off, either in or around your gutters or at the edge of the roof, it causes ice dams. These dams prevent additional water runoff leading to excess water on and under your shingles, increasing the chance that excess water will end up inside your home.
• Condensation – the cold from the ice on the roof creates condensation when it meets the warmth inside your home if you don’t have proper insulation. That condensation means interior damage as well as roof damage.

 

The Necessity of Deicing

 

What does deicing do for your roof? It protects it from damage caused by extreme winter weather and saves you money on costly repairs. But doing deicing right is critical to taking advantage of its benefits. There are different methods to clear your roof.

 

1. Snow Rake – using a snow rake is like using a shovel, and just like shovels, they come in different sizes and shapes. They work to move snow off the roof and are helpful when there is snow on top of the ice and for roof edge deicing.
2. Ice Pick – when ice dams build up in the gutters and edges of your roof, an ice pick can be effective for removal. Carefully use the ice pick in the gutters and downspouts until the ice breaks up enough to scoop it out.
3. Ice Melt – many homeowners wonder, does ice melt damage roofs? The answer depends on which product you use. Some contain corrosives that can do more damage than the ice you’re trying to remove or prevent. Make sure you don’t buy anything with sodium chloride or calcium chloride, which can lead to roof damage. Look for calcium magnesium acetate and ammonium sulfate for a safe way to deice using ice melt.

 

One of the best ways to protect your roof from damage this winter is prevention. Proactively deicing using ice melt before the storm and proper ice removal after it will help you avoid damage and leaks and will keep water from seeping under your shingles and into your home. Relying on a roofing professional to inspect your roof for damage before the extreme weather moves in and for an evaluation after a storm is another way to ensure your roof is in good condition so it can continue to protect you and your home. Contact the Premiere Roofing team for all of your roofing needs, including roof inspections and guidance on effective and safe roof deicing.

It’s the holiday season, and it’s time to hang those Christmas lights. The trick to keeping the holiday season bright is to hang the lights without damaging your shingle roof. Here’s how.

 

Choose the Right Lights

 

When hanging Christmas lights, be sure you choose the right lights. In the old days, there was only one option. Now you can choose from several different light types. Choosing the right ones will make it safe to hang lights from the roof.

 

• Incandescent lights – less expensive to buy than LED lights, incandescent strings are the old standard. However, they use more energy and burn hotter, leading to more energy use and higher utility bills after the holidays. They are also a fire hazard because they get hot.
• Battery-powered lights – no outlet by your light display? No problem! Choose battery-powered holiday lights. Be sure the battery pack is out of the elements to prevent damage and loss of power.
• LED light strings – these are the lights of choice for energy-conscious homeowners. You’ll use less energy with these cooler bulbs and take away the fire risk of the incandescent strings, and they come in a wide choice of colors and programming options. Additionally, you can plug quite a few strings, up to 25, into the same outlet because of their lower energy use.

 

Use the Right Tools

 

No matter what type you choose, when you’re decorating for Christmas and want to know if it’s safe to hang lights from the roof, the answer is yes. However, using the right tools is critical, and we don’t mean a drill or a hammer. It’s never a good idea to put holes in your shingle roof or the flashing. It just opens the potential for leaks and roof damage. And Christmas decorating damage to gutters is something roofing professionals are very familiar with. Instead, there are some fantastic ways to hang lights without damaging the roof or the gutters.

 

• Roof tabs are small plastic clips that slide under your shingles at the edge of your roof to hold lights in place. They won’t damage your roof, and allow for creative light hanging without drilling any holes.
• Gutter light clips are an option if your gutters block the edges of your roof and make light hanging challenging. Like the roof tabs, the gutter clips slide over the edge of the gutter without causing damage to the gutter material.

 

Caution When Removing the Lights

 

When the holidays are over, and it’s time to take down the lights, it can be tempting to just give them a tug. Don’t do it. Tugging down the lights is a great way to negate the caution you’ve taken with your holiday lights this year. A good pull on the light strings can damage the roof and gutter if the clips hang on instead of letting go, leaving behind popped-up shingles and bent gutters. Remove the lights carefully and leave the clips attached to the lights, so they’re ready to go next year.

 

‘Tis the season for holiday lights! If you’re worried about damage to your roof or gutters from light installation in years past, don’t hang your lights until you’ve had your roof assessed by a professional. Contact the roofing experts at Premiere Roofing to schedule a roof inspection before Santa comes down the chimney.