Except for the winter sport enthusiasts, winter is no one’s friend and that includes our roof and gutter systems.  Entering the season with knowledge helps a preparedness of mind and the inclination to look for little problems before they get to be HUGE problems.  Paying attention to these 5 tips below could save you much future grief.

Tip #1:  Inspect your roof and gutters for signs of ice dams or the formation of icicles. If not before, do so right after any wind or snow storms. Heavy snow and ice can rip gutters away from the home. Act now to save much expense in the spring to come.

Tip #2   Clogged gutters and down spouts can not move water and melted snow away from your home and this means damage. With a roof rake, be sure to remove snow build-up. If you have significant ice, then hammer chisel CAREFULLY and chip away. Then there is always the option to call the professionals. We’re always happy to serve.

Tip #3:   Unless your roof structure is damaged or rotted out, most residential roofs, no matter their locations, can usually support 20lbs per square foot of snow before they are stressed. The risky roofs are those flat or slightly pitched ones that cover our porches, carports and hastily built additions. These can be vulnerable when there is significant snow fall. So, a good rule of thumb is to apply some SAFE snow removal to such roofing structures after a significant snow of 5″ or more. SAFE means stay on the ground and use a snow rake with an appropriate extension. Another safe strategy is to call on a professional roofing contractor.

Tip #4:   Keeping in mind that most residential roof structures (unless damaged or decayed) can support up to 20lbs per square foot of snow before being stressed, be aware that according to the IBHS (Institute for Business and Home Safety) 1 inch of ice equals 1 FOOT of fresh snow.

Tip #5: Keep a look out for signs of an Overloaded roof:
* After a heavy snow, go into your attic. If you see your rafters are severely bent by weight or you hear cracking and popping, time to call a roofing professional.
* Or take notice of your house frame. If it moved enough to jam shut a door at the front or back of your home, it is time to consult a structural engineer. Your roof construction needs serious strengthening.

Knowing what to look for and then inspecting after every significant snow fall will help prevent little problems from growing into bigger ones.  So, enjoy the coming holiday and winter months ahead with confidence because, now, you’ve got this!

Skylights can be a great idea!  They bring in more natural light to your home, reducing the need for artificial light and therefore, reducing the lighting bill, but before you do anything, be sure you know your roof! Skylight installation will be different depending on the type of roof structure you have – RAFTERS OR TRUSS.  Both RAFTERS and TRUSSES support your roof, and are triangle in shape, but there are differences. Make sure you hire the roofing professional that knows these differences and will apply the best installation technique to protect your investment, your ROOF and home.

Roof RAFTERS consist of sloping outer beams which provide support.  These contain 2 main outer beams which do the support work for the entire roof.  So, if you decide to install a large skylight, usually the installer can cut one or more rafters to make it work with no difficulty.   The rafters on the sides of the rough opening are usually doubled up and headers are added at the top and bottom of the opening.  The overall roof support is not interfered with and all is well.

The TRUSS is a different story.  Trusses consist of more triangular webs inside the main frame.  They provide more support than rafters and the entire weight of the roof is equally shared by the series of triangles inside this main frame.  So, the idea of modifying them is a bad idea.  In this case it is important that your installer uses skylight units made to fit BETWEEN the roof members or gather several smaller skylights together to create a larger window.

Before seeking to install any skylights, AH Construction recommends that you know your roof, so you have the right questions to ask any roofing professional. Not all companies are equal, so be sure to hire the BEST one for your roof.

We’ve been getting a lot of summer storms lately, so it’s important for all homeowners to be aware of what they can do to protect a major home investment, their roof.

 AH Construction recommends that you keep an eye out for any possible damage that could occur as a result of such storms. Just follow these easy steps.

1. Start in the Attic, if accessible, during the day time. A sign of a problem is if you can see sunlight showing through the wood decking of the roof.  This is a clear indication of holes that need repair.   If there are no obvious holes, then use a flashlight to inspect your decking for dark stains, streaks and/or sagging.  All of these are signs of moisture problems.
2. Next move outside. Stay on the ground, please, and just walk around your house.  Look up and down.
   1. You might see missing shingles on the roof or shingles lying on the ground.  Both indicate a need for repair.  As you’re looking up, note any cracked or curled shingles.  This is usually caused by high winds and flying debris.  Such shingles will likely let in moisture.
   2. Note any dark patches where shingle granules have come off. Of course, you’ll note that this affects the look, but even more important, it leaves your shingles victim to the sun. This leads to dry-out of the asphalt and leaks for you.
   3. Observe the flashing on your roof. Is it bent or detached?  We want it thoroughly attached because it helps keep water from chimney vents and other roof penetrations.  Your flashing needs a thorough seal, to prevent water from seeping in.
   4. Lastly look for any debris left on your roof from a storm. Branches might seem harmless, but they actually rub the granules loose from your shingles or they may be covering a crack that needs repair.

Simple actions like these can save the homeowner a lot of trouble down the road. Getting your Roof Professional to take care of the damage sooner than later will save you great future expense.  So stay SAFE, be aware, and check out those roofs the best you can!

Good ventilation is what you want when it comes to a healthy roofing system.  When the ventilation system works well, energy use operates at high efficiency, and you avoid damage to the shingles, wood framing, ceiling, siding, paint and wall paper of your home.

Your home roofing ventilation system consists of two main parts: the exhaust vents and the intake vents. Your eaves, soffits or fascias of the roof do the in-take of the fresh cooler air while your ridge vents allow the hot, moist air to escape.

RIDGE VENTS

Ridge vents are installed at the peak of a sloped roof.  They allow damp, warm air to escape from the attic.  When properly installed they increase energy efficiency and prolong roof life.

FASCIA

Fascia, the long, straight board that runs along the lower edge of your roof is an important part of your entire roofing system:
1. It carries all the guttering (and therefore the weight of rain as well.)
2. Part of the system that seals your roofing system from the outdoors (weather, small animals)
3. Serves as ventilation for your attic.
4. Provides additional aesthetics.

 SOFFIT

The soffit works with the fascia as part of your roofing ventilation system. It is found under the fascia board. This is usually the board you see the most of from the street level. The soffit has small holes that allow air to circulate through it. Also, it serves to seal your roofing system from small animals and it can add aesthetics to your entire home.

EAVE

The eave is the lower edge of a roof which is usually overhanging beyond the roof edge. As well as a part of your roofing ventilation system, it serves a critical purpose in preserving the overall structure of your home. It sheds rainwater away from your siding and trim, especially away from your doors and window sills. Eaves help to greatly reduce rot, mildew and a host of other problems that can arise from water streaming down the face of your home. Eaves can also add an attractive design element to any home.

Different home and roof designs call for different combinations of parts to make the best roofing ventilation system. Each roof needs to be assessed by a dependable roofing professional to provide the ventilation system that will meet your individual needs.  Be sure to call on a roofing contractor that you can trust.