Box gutters and ice dams

So, with two winters in a row where we have encountered more ice and single digit temperatures than normal, I have been thinking about ice dams a lot. And visiting clients who have them. A lot.

For those who are not sure, an ice dam occurs during periods of thawing and freezing after snow or ice has fallen and stuck to your building. They can occur in clogged downspouts, at angle changes on complex roof lines, and often in box gutters. The box gutter begins filling up with the melted runoff from your roof as the sun heats the building and temperatures rise. Then, as the sun goes down and temperatures drop, the runoff freezes again and begins to expand. This forces ice under your roofing material, through window sills, onto brick walls, and just about anything else that ice can stick to. When this happens, the warm air from your house slowly melt the ice that it is exposed to, causing puddling water wherever the warm air i coming from. It can be extremely difficult to eliminate or identify the source of the small amount of warm air from your house.

The preparation for ice dams is to make sure your roofing has been installed properly, with a full application of underlayment under your roof material. This underlayment should extend from the roof edge to the ridge. In some cases, it is appropriate to install a thicker, self-adhesive 'ice and water' guard under your roofing along edges where snow and ice accumulation is probable. this is especially true of box gutters- snow and ice ALWAYS accumulate in box gutters and hanging gutters. Often, the warm air from the attic circulating in the cornice under the box gutters causes the ice to melt. This same warm air also has a wicking effect, leading the melted ice towards susceptible points in your roofing.

There is no fail safe method for preventing and  Following a simple checklist can help to eliminate ice dams during these periods:

*Make sure there are not large accumulations of debris in your box gutters

*Make sure your drainage lines are clear and that there are not clogs underground if you tie into a daylight system

*Make sure your box gutter seams are in good repair; if your home is at a stage where caulk is used to maintain the box gutters, be vigilant about it

*make sure the edge of the roof deposits runoff into the box gutter at a point at least 2 inches higher than the front edge of the gutter; this allows the ice an escape route other than going up your roof

*Install as much insulation as you can to minimize drafts tot he roof edge; this will prevent warm air from drawing that ice inside

*Inspect the conditions of chimney flashings and other flashings around other roof penetrations when you have your gutters cleaned

If any of these items cannot be accomplished by you or if you're not sure of the condition of your gutters this winter, it is recommended that you call a qualified tradesmen before next winter to get on the right track. One ice dam can make an awful mess of ceilings and walls- a lesson no one wants to learn twice.

Gutter maintainance and cold weather

1-7-15:

We are once again reminded of the cold bite of winter as the 'Polar Vortex' rushes back into our area this week. When the cold is this intense it is very difficult to stay productive on job sites. It is in times like these that we reflect on missed opportunities and lay our plans for the future.

Often, that means getting a clear picture of what maintenance items should have been taken care of on our roofs and in our gutters. One of the best ways to prevent roof, wall, and foundation leaks is to clean your gutters on a bi-annual basis. We recommend once around Thanksgiving and once more in the Spring. For our area, Derby usually serves as an adequate marker for when the gutters should be cleaned in the Spring. When the real cold sets in, it can be almost impossible to dislodge frozen chunks of leaf debris and ice, not to mention the risk of potential damage to your gutters in the process. Properly working gutters and downspouts can help you avoid having dangerous icicles hanging above your entryways or overflow that puddles and freezes on your walkways.

Also, just because you have gutter protection (screens, brushes, or smooth surface covers) don't make the mistake of neglecting to check your gutters for clogs. These protection systems work well and in most cases keep the gutters and downspouts free of debris. However, small leafs and pine needles can still find their way in (cypress and birch are notorious). If you have gutter covers on your home, we recommend visually inspecting the gutters at least once every 2 years. There are several benefits to this: you can remove any clogs or debris that has made its way in, you can inspect the caulked seams of your aluminum gutters to make sure they are still watertight, and you can verify that all of your gutter hangers are still in place and securely fastened to your gutter boards. Many homeowners have let their gutters and fascia boards fall into disrepair because of a false sense of security due to having gutter covers installed. As the old saying goes ' an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure'.

Regularly scheduled gutter cleanings offer an opportunity to get a close look at the condition of the roofing material on your home and also keep your gutters in good repair.