Winter in North Shore is in full swing and extreme snow conditions can make an ice dam form on your home. Not only do you want to protect your North Shore home from an ice dam, you also want to keep the roofline clear of icicles falling onto potential buyers viewing your home.
An ice dam forms when warm "house air" that is escaping into the attic or roof system meets a large snowfall brought on by a big storm.
When the warm air escapes from your home, it melts the snow on the roof only to have it refreeze at a colder, more frozen part of your roof. This freezing water could build up and actually form an ice "dam". Unfortunately the water flowing behind the dam may not have anywhere else to go but into your home. This is one of the most inconvenient and costly home repairs you can experience and usually lasts for several days.
If you haven't experienced an ice dam before, do not rule it out. Be diligent about watching for one to form as the weather worsens. Sometimes these ice dams will form beautiful icicles that potential buyers will take as a beautiful sight as they come up to your home. However, buyers may also see the potential risks that this ice damming condition is causing when water is entering from the roof. Water may actually be trickling down to the 1st floor, then to the basement. The whole time the water will be ruining drywall, plaster, ceilings and floors as it makes its way down.
Fortunately, most ice damming can be avoided by being aware of the proper techniques to prevent it.
Tips to Prevent Ice Damming:
Insulation is important! Make sure all attic access panels and stairs are completely insulated. You will also need to insulate all can lighting, exhaust fans, chimneys, soil stacks and junction boxes. Be sure to seal any other obvious areas that pierce the attic envelope as well.
Don't forget to make sure all bathroom fans exhaust to the exterior of the attic space and finally make sure that there is sufficient ventilation to avoid any further ice damming and to protect your home from future mold issues.
Having adequate insulation levels plus an effectively sealed attic envelope is the best thing you can do to avoid ice damming. By doing so, you can avoid the expense and incredible hassles that ice dams bring with them. It will also save you money by stopping leaks and energy loss.
Protect not only your beautiful North Shore home from damage that occurs with ice dams, but also protect buyers coming to view, and possibly, buy your home. Protect your home from our Illinois winters and then protect your investment by calling The Marla Schneider Team.
Comments(0)