#roof raking

[northcountryliving]

One of the challenges associated with living near Lake Superior is the continual need to keep the snow from accumulating to too large an amount on the roof tops! Thank goodness for the roof rake!

[alloygutters]

What’s The Deal With Ice In My Gutter System?

Have you seen the pictures on the news of fountains that have frozen mid-flow? How about Niagara Falls freezing over?

Are you wondering how your gutters or downspouts can be frozen? Think about it this way. If something that is draining straight down can freeze (i.e. Niagara Falls), can you see how water can freeze in your gutters and downspouts? It is the same concept.

“But there’s not any ice on my roof!” Even if there does not appear to be any ice on your roof, there can still be ice in your gutters and downspouts. If you feel like your downspouts are not draining correctly, a good way to tell if there is ice in your downspout is by tapping on the downspout and listening to hear if it sounds like it is solid or if it has a hollow sound.

Thanks to the Polar Vortex and the sub-zero temperatures, we receive many calls about gutters overflowing. The reason for this appearance of overflow is because even if you can’t see it, there is a good chance your gutters are filled with ice.  Anything that comes on top of your ice-filled gutters would appear to be overflowing, but really there is just not any more room in your already-full gutters. It would be similar to having a full cup of coffee and then trying to pour more into it. There isn’t any room for the new coffee, so the cup would overflow.

Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done about the frozen gutters & downspouts until the temperatures rise, and we have a good, old-fashioned thaw. At this point, your gutters and downspouts should start draining properly, and the melted ice (water) should flow out of your downspouts per usual. If, after a thaw, your gutters & downspouts are still not draining properly, then it would be time to have your gutters & downspouts inspected and cleaned out of any non-ice related debris (i.e. – leaves, twigs, miscellaneous debris that was not cleaned out in the fall before the snow and ice).

We hope that this information lends more insight into what is really going on in your gutters during the winter. Stay warm!

[alloygutters]

“Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful….” And So Is All Of The Snow On Your Roof!

There are several reasons why the snow on your roof can be dangerous to your home. It may look pretty and seem like something that you can’t avoid, but here are some reasons that you should do something about the snow on your roof.

The more snow we get, the heavier it becomes on your roof. 2 words – cave in! Snow can actually cause your roof to cave in.

Snow can result in roof leaks. Nobody wants a leaky roof over the holidays!

Ice, snow, and water can cause your roof to warp and rot. We all know roofs are not cheap to replace, so it is important to keep the one you have in good condition.

Wintery precipitation left on your roof can cause stains.

Alloy Gutter Company offers snow removal from roofs. We also apply calcium chloride to aid melting and prevent the future accumulation of more snow and ice.

[alloygutters]

Snow On Your Roof? Consider Roof Raking

Alloy Gutter Company offers roof-raking and snow removal from roofs. We also can apply calcium chloride to melt the snow. This helps to prevent ice damming and also removes the heavy weight of snow from the roof that can cause damage or even a roof to cave in. Removing snow from a roof can be dangerous, why not have an insured expert take the stress out of taking care of your roof. Call us today at [phone] for a free estimate or to discuss any questions you might have.

Heavy Snow Can Cause:

Cave In’s

Water Intrusion

Warping

Rotting

Brown Stains