​Roof Snow & Ice Removal Service in Skokie

Roof Snow & Ice Removal Service
Winter season is a time to stay warm and spend most activities inside the comforts of our homes. However, weather conditions during this period can post a threat to the exteriors and interiors of the house, mainly due to poor maintenance and lack of preventive measures done by homeowners.

One of the most damaging and pervasive dilemmas that arise throughout snowy months is the formation of ice dams – the thick bands of ice that forms along the edge of the roof, typically on the eaves of sloped roofs causing improper water drainage. Ice dams are destructive and could lead to serious damages since it impedes the normal water flow in the gutter system. Once ice from the roof completely melts, dense ice dams will hinder it from exiting properly – either add to ice formation or leaks to the house’s interiors. Thus, leading to water damaged walls, ceiling and insulations, and costing residential owners thousands for repair bills. Sometimes large ice dams became too heavy that it causes structural damage in the roof and could even present hazards to people when they icicles suddenly fall off.
Formation of an ice dam is slow and at most cases inevitable, no matter how much effort one puts in to preventing it. The best way is to gain knowledge about what causes ice dams and how to prepare their house from these situations. Another is to ask for professional assistance to monitor and maintain proper roof ventilation and insulation. It is also ideal to have a well-cleaned gutter system before winter starts. 


What causes an ice dam to form?
Ice dams are products when snow on the roof melts and moves downward to a colder surface and starts to accumulate and to solidify along its edge. Snow melts due to the heat coming from the attic or the ceiling – usually above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, regardless of the cold temperature outside. Due to snow’s insulating properties, ice dams begins and worsens after a heavy snowfall. Such occurrence increases to poorly installed attic ventilation as too much heat build-up could thaw the thick blanket of snow collected in the roof that will freeze once it reaches the colder surface edge. The process of continuous thawing and freezing along the rooftop to the eaves promotes the development of thick and heavy ice dams.

How to protect your house from ice dams?
It is essential that the shelter, which gives us protection, especially during extreme weather conditions must be well-maintained and taken care of to avert unnecessary damages not just to its structures and parts, but to stop harmful incidents happening to every person residing in it. Having adequate knowledge of house maintenance and function definitely maximizes its features to be a safe place to live in.
Ideally, the roofing system, which includes the ventilation and insulation plus the gutter arrangement must always be well-maintained and improved depending on its necessity to function correctly. Remember as homeowners; home enhancement is better than major renovations and repairs. Since ice dams form due to the uneven temperature of the roof surface – warm upper part and cold eaves and edges, the heating system must be enhanced. Better-quality ventilation will allow seamless airflow from your living quarters to the roof deck. It is an effective long-term solution in avoiding heat build-up as hot air escapes the house from underneath the roof deck. Therefore, maintaining the cold surface of the roof during snowfall. Installing ceiling and floor insulation can also limit heat build-up. Finally, getting rid of fallen leaves and debris that accumulate in the gutter and ensure that the downspouts are not clogged and well-fixed could guarantee melted snow to flow out and exit the roof without the risk of it freezing into problematic ice dams.