With spring in full swing, there is no shortage of things to do around your home to get it ready for the big melt and coming rains! We have outlined 4 things to do to prevent your home from becoming ground zero for a loss.
Clear away any standing ice on your roof
Over the winter, depending on how your roof ventilation system is, ice may build up at the edge of your roof. This is called an ice dam, and a few years ago was one of the single largest causes of losses. While they present an issue throughout the winter, they really begin to show their damage when snow starts melting, as they can allow water to enter back into your home. Take some time and look at the edge of your roof, and if you notice any buildup safely chip it away or rake it off, but be careful not to damage
any shingles!
Shovel away snow from around your house
Keeping remaining snow in place where it is until it melts may seem prudent from a standpoint of the amount of work it takes to shovel that snow, but letting the snow melt where it is may prove a hazard. Depending on how the snow melts and how your yard is landscaped, the melt may cause water to gather around the edge of your building, which may see the water enter your home. In order to try and prevent this from occurring, take a bit of time and shovel around the perimeter of your house. This should do well to prevent water from building up there.
Clear a path for melting snow
So now you have your roof clear of ice, and your perimeter clear of snow. Now it would be a good time to check where all that snow is going to drain and how to keep it away from your home. If any has started to melt, look where it is flowing to and start digging trenches in the remaining snow to direct the flow of water away from your home.
Check for cracks or damage which has occurred over the winter
Since you’re out taking a look at everything now anyway, take stock and look at the perimeter of your house to see if there are any cracks forming in your foundation. See if there is any noticeable damage to any siding or shingles. You’d be amazed how much can get through those little cracks and lifts in shingles. If you notice anything that seems a little off, have a professional come out to inspect it and make sure if there is anything which needs to be done.
Your home is usually your largest investment, and we want to make sure your investment stays safe.
Thank you for reading. If you found this informative, please let me know at my email bellow, as well if you have any topics you would like us to explore further.
Sincerely,
Blaine Petrie
