With the freezing weather and snowy conditions in Utah, keeping your roof in good condition will require a little bit of extra work. Snow and ice can cause holes, scratches, and dents, and even lead to roof collapse. It is important to de-ice your roof as soon as possible to protect your roofing material and your gutters. Lifetime Roofing wants to share some tips on how to de-ice your roof for this winter and in the future. The sooner you de-ice your roof, the safer your home will be. 

1- Use A Snow Rake

Many tools exist on the market to help homeowners remove snow from their roofs safely. A roof snow rake can help you move the snow down your roof without having to climb on a ladder. Roof rakes often extend multiple feet to help you reach higher parts of your home easily. Even just grabbing the snow and moving it off the bottom of your roof will help the remaining snow to slide down to where you can reach it. 

2- Chip Away At The Ice Using An Ice Pick

If your home has an ice dam after a storm, using an ice pick will help to break up build-up inside smaller areas or inside the gutters. Using an ice pick to de-ice your roof requires extra care and precision though in order to prevent further damage to your roof or harm to yourself. 

3- Apply Ice Melting Products

Similar to melting snow on walkways and driveways, homeowners or business owners can use ice melting products to melt the ice and turn it into a liquid. Using these ice melters will help to de-ice your roof in a much safer way than climbing around your roof. Sprinkle the product evenly over the affected area. 

Maintaining your roof will also require you to limit the number of chemicals that you apply to your roof materials. Using de-icers can lead to mature deterioration of roofing materials. 

4- Fan The Attic Area

Improper attic ventilation can lead to ice build-up. Ice dams can start leaks inside your roof and will need to be stopped before too much moisture gets into common places in your home. Placing a fan in your attic will help direct the water toward your gutters. Make sure that the fan is pointed directly at the ice dams before turning it on. 

5- Spray Warm Water Directly On The Ice

This tip is only a temporary solution for ice dams but can help melt large quantities of ice. Put warm water in a spray bottle and spray it directly on the ice until it melts. Melting the ice dams will help to run off into your gutter correctly. Use hot water carefully to prevent injury and unnecessary burns. 

6- Install A Heat Cable

Applying a heat cable will need to be done during better weather to help melt the ice and snow as it falls. Heat cables can be attached directly to your roofing material or around solar panels and can be turned on without even leaving your home to face the outside winter conditions. Heat cables can be turned on electronically and start draining the moisture from your roof in a matter of minutes. 

Roof Maintenance With Lifetime Roofing

We are a full service roofing company in North Salt Lake, that looks to improve homes in the Northern Utah area. Our qualified technicians have the knowledge to apply quality roofing materials and maintain the life of your roof. Living in your home needs to be safe and comfortable. Having a quality roof will prevent leaks, uncomfortable home temperatures, and prevent mold growth inside your home. 

Complete and total customer satisfaction is important to us. Not only are we upfront with our pricing, but we also offer warranties because we stand behind the quality of our work. Contact Lifetime Roofing to improve the function of your home today.

Roofing on all homes must last through many different types of weather and usage. Protecting your roof starts with knowing how to maintain the material, prevent mold growth, and understand how other roofing components can extend the lifespan of your roof. Lifetime Roofing wants to guide our clients on how to protect their roofs from damage best. With our maintenance services, roofing repair, and other resources on our website, all homeowners can have peace of mind about the safety of their homes. 

Tips For Metal Roofs

Different roofing materials will require different maintenance techniques and experience different problems. For metal roofs, you can deal with rust, improper insulation, holes, and deterioration. Further in this guide are ideas that can help maintain all different materials of roofing.

Metal roofs are prone to corrosion, scratching, and denting, more than traditional roofing materials. When you perform proper maintenance and checkups on your metal roof, you can help the roof look pristine and help stop leaks. Regular maintenance can help stop problems from becoming bigger or a whole system failure. Metal roofs are chosen because of their long life, but if they are not properly taken care of, you may lose the long lifespan of your roof.

Tips For Asphalt Roofs

Regular cleaning is essential for all roofs, but asphalt roofs can benefit greatly from removing debris, sticks, and other build-ups. Asphalt shingles may have leaves, dirt, or even bird nests shoved under them that can start to develop mold growth and cause cracks, holes, or other deterioration in your roof. Some homeowners utilize metal meshed grates to limit the amount of cleanup that is needed constantly.

Take Care Of Your Gutters

While the gutters are not located directly on your roof, they play an important role in protecting it from damage and extending the lifespan of your roof. Gutters help water flow away from your home and prevent ice dams from occurring. When your gutter is full of twigs, leaves, or dirt, standing water occurs and sits on your roof. This causes ice dams in the winter and excess moisture sitting on your roofing material will lead to mold growth. 

Trim Surrounding Trees

If you are seeing a surplus of tree branches on your roof and in your gutters, it may be time to trim the trees around your property. Trimming back trees not only helps keep your gutters clear, but it can also protect old limbs or the entire tree from falling on your home. Preventing major roof damage and extending the lifespan of your roof can be prevented by regular tree trimming. 

Prevent Ice Dams

During the winter months in climates that receive a lot of moisture, ice dams are a common problem that can cause damage to your roofs. Ice dams can lead to your gutters detaching from the roof, cracking in roofing materials, and leaks inside your home.

Preventing ice dams and extending the lifespan of your roof starts with having clean gutters, properly removing snow from your roof, and ensuring your gutters are at the right slope to help move moisture off your roof. 

Avoid Pressure Washing Shingles

Pressure washing your home can help it have a new life and make materials last longer. While most areas of your home can benefit from pressure washing, avoiding this type of washing on shingles can help extend the lifespan of your roof. Pressure washing can loosen parts of the shingles or remove their protective coating. Doing so may void your warranty or cause your shingles to deteriorate faster than normal. 

Shingles can be cleaned using a leaf blower or a broom to get stubborn debris and dirt off of your roof. 

Fortify The Roof

Your home’s exterior is constantly exposed to the elements and natural disasters. If you want your roof to stay intact through hurricanes, tornados, high winds, and major storms, you will need to fortify it. Spending a little extra money to firmly secure your roof with nails, ribbing, and metal flashing will help extend the lifespan of your roof. 

Upgrade Your Roof With Lifetime Roofing

Obtaining services for your home should not be difficult. We believe in giving your home the attention it needs as soon as possible. Protecting your home is important because it needs to protect you. Having a safe and comfortable place to live requires a roof over your head. Lifetime Roofing is proud to provide a variety of services for residential and commercial spaces. Contact us through our website or visit us in North Salt Lake, Layton, or Park City.