Check for damage caused by winter snow and ice dams. Shingles and roofing support materials can be damaged by winter’s freeze and thaw cycles if water has penetrated the outter protective layer of your roof. Concrete and clay tile roof owner need to pay special attention to any broken or shattered tiles.

Gutter and downspout inspections are important to make sure the spring time downpours are routed away from your roof. Clogged gutters can allow rain to get under the lower placed shingles and damage underlying materials. Leaves, tree branches, and other materials collect in gutters over fall and all wash together with the first big rain to form frustrating clogs. I’ve even seen bird nests in gutters countless times.

The most important thing to remember when evaluating your roof this spring is Safety. Most reputable roofing contractors provide free inspections for homeowners. Read online reviews to find out which local roofers have the best reputation to avoid pushy salesmen.

Authorities were called to the 6100 block of Neilwood Drive shortly after noon. It took nearly 90 minutes and 70 firefighters to get the fire under control. Firefighters had to retreat from the inside of the home because of fears it would collapse.

Luckily, no one was seriously injured. One of the workers was taken to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

You should never attempt to remove ice from your home using an open flame. I would avoid hiring contractors who employ this process. There are many experience companies that will safely remove the ice from your home before it damages your roofing system. If you are having problems finding someone in your area, you should search Google or Twitter for recommendations.

One popular method to stop leaks from ice dams is to point a box fan at the underside of the roof, from the attic near the leak. This will often times remove enough heat from the roof surface to instantly freeze the water leaking in. You may need to open an attic vent or find another way to supply cooler air to your addict if the previous method does not work.

You should keep an eye out for Ice Dams anytime you see icicles forming along the edge of your roof. This is a good indication your gutters are full of ice and ice dams are on the way. You can buy long handled aluminum rakes, some with wheels, to help reach up and remove the ice dams. It’s not recommended to salt your roof or attempt to remove ice dams by standing above them on the roof.

One clever solution is to fill panty hose with ice salt and lay them vertically acrossed the ice dams. This will eventually melt down through the ice and create a channel for the water to flow off the roof during it’s melting phases.

Great Clip from a News Crew in Maine about Ice Dams:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Crazy Inflatable Ice Dam Removal and Prevention:

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Hard Way: Guy Beats Crap Out of His Roof While Listening to NPR:

Click here to view the embedded video.