Although many are persistent in keeping their driveway clear of ice and snow, it is easy to ignore the threat of snow and ice build-up on a roof. If snow and ice is allowed to gather on a roof it increases the chances of structural damage to a home. This build-up is not only a danger to your house, but falling ice can cause serious injury to a visitor or member of your household. Finding an inexpensive long term solution to this problem is vital in protecting the structural integrity of your home and keeping your guests safe.
Another serious danger is the formation of ice dams, which form when snow melts from the roof top and refreezes near the gutters. Eventually this prevents normal water drainage and water will leak into the attic and cause damage to the walls. The average roof is able to endure up to 20 pounds per square foot. According to this your roof should never have more than 4 feet of new snow, 2 feet of old snow or one inch of ice on it. The exact weight of snow your roof can endure can be found in your building design plan. You could hire a professional to shovel snow and ice off your roof, but that is only a short term solution to a recurring problem.
There are many roof de-icing systems available, a few examples being T-Zone, T-Panel, and Thermal Technologies. Some systems are installed onto the eaves or valleys of your roof, hindering ice dams from forming. Another system gives you the option to heat your whole roof. A self-regulating radiant heat cable is built into aluminum panels, designed for maximum heat transfer to eradicate ice forming, while also reducing the risk of damage to your roof. Systems from Thermal Technologies are relatively simple to install and have low operating costs which makes them very efficient. Along with simple maintenance, such as shoveling snow off your roof, installing a roof de-icing system will protect your home, prevent injuries caused by falling ice, and extend the life of your roof.
