One of the most common problems homeowners encounter during winter is the formation of ice dams on their roof. Ice damming is a common dilemma, especially for houses that are located in an area where there is constant cold weather. If you're experiencing this problems, you may be tempted to look for DIY fixes online. However, it is a much better idea to make the proper repairs so that winter roofing issues like ice dam formations won't be a problem in the future. Here are a few of the things that you have to consider when making repairs to your roof in order to prevent ice dams:

Snow may seem so pretty and harmless upon your roof this winter season. But, it can do considerable damage to your roof if not removed. The snow on your roof can be quite dangerous. That is why home owners should always take time and effort to have the snow removed from their roof. 

First and foremost, snow can become really heavy, especially if it’s wet. If snow is not removed from a roof, it can quickly build up. Too much weight can cause your roof to cave in. If your roof is not strongly supported, caving in is a real possibility. Aside from the extensive repairs and replacement that must be done to the roof itself, you might be dealing with flooding and water damage to other areas of your home if the roof collapses. 

Winter can be really tough on your house, especially if you are not prepared. One of the most common problems that you might encounter during the winter is ice damming on your roof. 

Ice dams form when the snow from your roof melts and refreezes at the edge of the roof. This might leave you wondering how snow could melt when it is freezing outside. This can be traced back to basic thermodynamics and probably a poorly designed ventilation system. When snow accumulates on the surface of a roof, the roof becomes insulated. This traps the heat in the attic, and increases the temperature of the roof. When snow is melted with this heat, water runs down the roof. The bottom part of the roof is usually less warm than the top. When the water reaches the cold edge or gutter, it refreezes and turns into ice, creating a dam. As more snow gets accumulated on the roof, this process will continue and the dam will get larger, causing greater damage. 

Causes of Ice Damming

Basically, ice dams are caused by improper ventilation. Aside from that, ice dams form due to a few other factors:

Inefficient heating in your home can cause more problems than you can imagine. One of those issues would be having icicles hanging along the edge of your roof. While these icicles may seem like cute roof decorations, these are signs that you have roof problems. Aside from that, large icicles can cause serious injuries if ever they break off and hit people below.

Basically, icicles can be found on houses where there is improper ventilation and insulation along the roof area. So, what causes these icicles to form on your roof?

A new roof is a significant investment that will not only protect you, your home and your assets, but will also add value to your property. As the beneficiary of a newly installed roofing system, you are covered by a roofing warranty, which is your insurance against a series of damage associated poor workmanship or low quality of materials. Before you agree to have your roof installed, remember to look at the fine print of your warranty for some of the most important information. 

The first thing you need to know about your roofing warranty is that workmanship warranties are only as good as the roofing company behind them. Therefore, you need to make sure that you select a reputable company that has been in business for several decades and holds a history of honored warranties and happy creditors. Hiring a company that has changed its name several times is not a smart idea. If you think about it, the most difficult thing for a business is to build a name and therefore a reputation. Why would you change your name as a business if you have achieved all that? 

There are few Toronto roofing companies that can boast both a long history and a good reputation in the industry. Consumers often find that after having a project completed, their roofing company no longer exists or changed its name, which makes it impossible to track down. You may be surprised to see that your Toronto roofing company is now operating under a whole new name, but still uses the same phone number for business. This is common practice for roofing companies that don’t want to be found by former clients, creditors, or insurers.

Unfortunately, roofing companies are not always properly qualified to handle the services involved in your home’s roof repair and replacement. As there is no certification required to function as a roofing company, many of the so-called businesses in the field are not at all qualified to perform such specialized work. As a result, they run away and shut down when insurance companies or homeowners try to seek compensation for poorly executed roof work. The damages caused by an improperly installed roof, can be up to thousands of dollars and entail more than the destruction of the plywood beneath. Damage can extend to your furniture, walls, ceilings, and insulation.

Frustrated and unhappy customers, as well as unpaid creditors are the main reason why a Toronto roofing company suddenly decides to change its name or go out of business.

Some people may have no idea what hook and ladder contractors are, but they are handymen like your neighbor who doesn't specialize in one particular trade such as roofing. They are often cheaper than hiring someone who does specialize in roofing, so be careful… because you often get what you pay for.

A hook and ladder contractor is a home-based businessperson who offers his or her service at low rates and has no specialized training in roof repairs or does not have the proper equipment and tools. He might be a guy who has run out of luck and is trying to make a living using whatever skills he has or someone who time on his hands and is trying to make some extra cash. It's hardly surprising that he offers you the kind of rate he does.