Product Highlight: “Roofmelt” roof de-icing tablets

Roof Melt

The product highlight for the first week of February is “Roofmelt” roof de-icing tablets. This product is designed to help aid in the removal of ice dams that form on the eaves of your roof. It comes in a bucket that has approximately 60 tablets in it. You place the tablets about a foot or less apart along the backside of where the ice dam has formed. Down below is the instructions from the back of the bucket.

Roofmelt "how it works"

We have found the claim that you can “throw the tablets safely from the ground” is not the best way to do it. Unless you are a major league pitcher and can throw the tablets from the ground and have them land directly behind the ice dam with about a one foot spacing in between them, you are probably going to have to get on a ladder and place them on the roof.

The point of the roof melt is to HELP aid in the removal of the ice dam. It is not magic pixie dust that makes your ice dams disappear after one day. If used correctly it will help create a channel for the water to go and it will help loosen the ice that is already there. We’ve found that people expect instant results and that’s just not going to happen. It is a good product, that when used properly will help you get rid of your ice dams. Just don’t expect a miracle.

For more information on getting rid of ice dams check out these blogs:

Product Highlight: Roof de-icing cables

Get a roof rake to prevent an ice dam

Get your home ready for winter

How to prevent and get rid of ice dams on your roof

The product above can be found at LeVahn Brothers Hardware Hank

12700 Bass Lake Rd. Maple Grove Mn 55369

To contact us call 763-553-1222

Check us out on the web at levahnbros.com

Check us out on Facebook and “like” us

Product Highlight: Roof de-icing cables

Roof de-icing cables

The product highlight for the last week of January is Wrap-on roof de-icing cables.  The reality is that this is a product that should be purchased when you don’t have two feet of snow and ice on your roof but nobody thinks about it when it’s warm out. Roof de-icing cables are a device that is applied when there is no ice or snow on the roof and are used when the snow and ice are present. They are a heat cable that will melt snow and ice in your gutters and on the first few feet of roof to prevent ice dams from forming. It is not designed to totally clear a roof of snow nor is it meant for a flat roof. It works to create channels for the water to flow so that when a roof naturally thaws it has a place for water to flow. Packages range in length from 40′ to 120′ and each package comes with shingle clips to hold the cable in place and instructions for how to properly install the cable.

Ice dam prevention

This is a highly recommended product that we suggest you buy now while the image of ice dams is still fresh on you mind. If you wait until spring, summer or even fall the memory of that ice dam will fade until you have another issue next winter.

For more about ice dams and ice dam prevention check out these blogs:

Get your home ready for winter, How to prevent and get rid of ice dams, and Get a roof rake to prevent an ice dam

To purchase heat cable or if you have other questions call 763-553-1222

LeVahn Bros Hardware and Plumbing is located at

12700 Bass Lake Rd Maple Grove, MN 55369

visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

Check us out of Facebook and “like” us

Get a roof rake to prevent an ice dam

Metrodome roof collapse due to snowfall

With 2 feet of snowfall occurring in the metro area of Minnesota you need to make sure you stay on top of the accumulation of snow on your roof. Take the collapsing of the Metrodome as a sign that snow accumulation on a roof is not a good thing. Snow accumulation on your roof isn’t going to collapse your roof but it can cause damage.

Ice dam

The biggest issue with snow accumulation on a roof is the forming of ice dams.
Ice dams occur when heat from your home melts the snow that is in direct contact with the roof surface. This melted snow then re-freezes and builds up an ice dam, normally at the gutter. As time goes by and water continues to feed the dam, the ice dam grows. If you have icicles forming, that is usually an indication that a dam may be forming.

Water bubble formed by a roof leak

The problem that arises due to ice dams is that the water that is backing up at the ice dam can find its way into your home. The water finds cracks and openings in the roof and makes its way into your attic space. From there it will make its way down walls or through ceilings. It can cause major water damage in your home.

Remove the first few feet of snow with a roof rake

To avoid having an ice form on your home use a roof rake to pull snow from the roof. A roof rake is essentially a really shovel that is turned on its side so that you can pull snow from the roof surface. When removing the snow you don’t need to worry about clearing the whole roof. All that you need to remove is 2-3 feet of snow from the roofs edge. The first couple feet of roof is where the dam forms and you need to keep this area free of snow to avoid having the water accumulate here.

Avalanche snow rake

The are a number of different roof rake options out there to purchase. The models that we carry are all around the same price (around $50-$55). A new unique version is the Avalanche snow rake. It slides under the snow allowing the snow to slide off the surface of the roof. There are also different length options so be sure to look at what length you need. If you have a really tall roof and need to extend your rake make sure you buy one that has that option. A five foot extension runs about $10.

“Roof Melt”

If you have an ice dam already formed do not attempt to chip or pull the ice up with your roof rake. They are meant to pull down snow only and they will break if you attempt to use them as an ice chipper. Remove the snow on top of the dam and as much as you can reach behind the already formed dam. As a last resort use a product such as Roof Melt ice dam remover. Roof Melt is a large pellet of ice melt. It is magnesium based so it doesn’t harm the surface as much as a sodium based product. I can’t say for sure that it doesn’t harm the shingles but I’d rather replace shingles then have to deal with gutting a room due to water damage.

If you have an issue with ice dams on your home you should strongly consider installing roof and gutter heat cables on your roof. Once installed, the heat cables can be plugged in anytime to melt an ice dam from your roof and/or gutters. They also can be placed on a thermostat that activates the cable at a certain temperature. It’s something that needs to be installed before there is snow and ice on the roof. We have dozens of customers (and this year hundreds of customers) that come in every year for ice dam issues. We always recommend the roof cables and hardly anyone remembers to come back and buy the cables in the summer or fall. I would recommend buying the cables now while it’s on your mind. If you have them on hand you’ll be much more likely to remember to install them in the warmer months. Cables can be purchased that are between 60′ and 120′.

Check out cable 12 for a story that they did on ice dams in the twin cities. They will be airing the story at 4:00 and 6:00 on Friday the 17th.

For more info on roof rakes and ice dams check out the blog “how to prevent and get rid of ice dams”

For more information call us at 763-553-1222

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd Maple Grove, MN 55311

Or visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

Check us out on Facebook and “like” us

Related articles

• Top Ten Spots for Roof Leaks (homeownersinsurance.org)
• Proper Attic Ventilation is Essential (bisonroofing.wordpress.com)
• Home inspections: Myths and facts (mnn.com)

How to prevent and get rid of ice dams on your roof

Ice Dam

Is this winters snowfall going to cost you thousands of dollars?

Removing heavy snow from your roof can prevent expensive water damage caused by ice dams. Water from melting snow on your roof can damage your walls roof and ceilings costing you a lot of money as well as being a huge inconvenience to you.

Water leaks from ice and snow are caused by the heat of your home melting the snow on your roof. Water then refreezes and builds at your gutters. Soon you will have an ice dam. This ice dam builds and prevents water from escaping the roof. The water will then take the path of least resistence under shingles or flashing and finally into your home.

The best fight against ice dams is to prevent them from forming. Using a “roof rake” is one option. A roof rake is generally an aluminum blade on the end of a long extension pole. Often times the poles are extendable or extensions can be purchased for them.

Take your roof rake and remove the first two to three feet of snow from your roof. You DO NOT need to remove all of the snow from the roof. As long as the water has somewhere to go it will be fine. Be careful when removing snow. BE GENTLE. Do not damage your shingles. Also, stand back away from the roof as far as you can in case a large section of snow gives way. Do not stand on a ladder while removing snow. If you need extra length see if extensions are available for your rake.

Another option for prevention of ice dams is heat cable. This is electrical cable that can be attached to your roof and in your gutter. It can be plugged in when needed and will thaw and melt ice dams away. Ideally you would want to install a product such as this when it was a little warmer (shingles can be real brittle when they are cold). It can’t be installed after the ice dam has already formed either.

So what if an ice dam has already formed?

Ice dams that are already formed are difficult to remove without damaging your roof. Remember your shingles are brittle. The last thing you want to do is put holes in your shingles by scraping and chipping the ice off your shingles. Using heat such as a torch may start a fire or even cause more water at a faster rate to enter your home under the shingles. Some contractors recommend rock salt but this could also cause damage to your shingles. Most manufacturers of shingles do not recommend this approach. Unfortunately, the only truly safe recommendation is prevention.

 

Roof Melt

If you need to do something to prevent a flood and a little damage to your roof is considered collateral damage then use a roof deicer that is mostly if not all calcium chloride based. In terms of ice melt chemicals calcium chloride does the least amount of harm to your shingles. A good option is to use Roof Melt ice dam melter. It comes in a 14 pound tub with 60 tablets that you can safely throw on the roof from the ground level. Ideally you want to land the pellets a few feet behind the ice dam. Remember ice dams form due to the heat of your home melting the snow on the roof. More than likely spots that form ice dams are forming them due to heat loss occurring through your roof. Make sure that you have proper insulation in the attic of your home and the ice dam issue should go away.

Visit LeVahn Brothers Hardware and Plumbing 12700 Bass Lake Road in Maple Grove to pick up a snow rake, roof melt, or roof & gutter heat cable. Visit our web site for more info

http://www.levahnbros.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Call us at 763-553-1222