Even though it seems like summer is lingering around this Fall, with temperatures in the mid 80’s recently, we in New England know that Winter temperatures are right around the corner. With winter temperatures, come winter conditions, and snow storms will be here before we know it. In recent memory, the winters of 2014 and 2009 proved to be some of the worst in the last few decades in New England. From a two week ice storm, to historic levels of snow, New England homes felt the consequences. Hundreds of roofing issues were reported in these winters. From collapsed roofs to leaks the damage cost homeowners thousands.

Rhode Island Ice Dam Removal

Ice dams are ridges of ice that form at the edge of a roof and prevent melting snow from draining off the roof. Ice dams can create havoc on a home. The ice will slowly melt, eventually leading to leakage in the roof. If the leaking is not taken care of right away,  the potential of a roof collapse increases. Damage can also be had on your walls, ceilings, insulation and other areas of the homes structure. Rhode Island Slate Roofing provides Rhode Island and Massachusetts residents and business owners with Ice Dam Removal services to make sure you can avoid a devastating situation.

Roof Snow Shoveling

Just like ice dams, snow build up on your home can lead to some serious repair or replacement bills for homeowners. Depending on the slope and style of your roof, there is only so much weight-age it can hold safely. Additionally, the build of snow can lead to ice dams as well. Don’t end up like the multiple people every year who injure themselves trying to remove snow from their homes their selves.  Contact the insured professionals at Rhode Island Slate Roofing.

Enjoy the last few weeks of warm weather New England. And as Winter comes, contact us for all your snow and ice dam removal projects.

With the latest Nor’Easter dropping snow on overworked roofs all across Rhode Island and the rest of New England this winter, it is important to understand that a little maintenance on your roof and gutters can save you big headaches in the long run. Spring is almost here, but until the snow finally melts, Rhode Island Slate Roofing is here to offer a few post-snow maintenance tips to make sure your roof makes it through to spring in the best possible shape.

Clean Gutters and Remove Ice Dams

One of the toughest parts about owning a home is making sure the gutters are cleared in between snowfalls. To avoid any potentially dangerous injury from falling, it is best to hire a professional roofing contractor who has the special tools and experience to do the work, like the ones at Rhode Island Slate Roofing. If you let the leaves and debris build up in your gutters, the clog will start to freeze and become even harder to remove later on. Even worse, it is only a matter of time before the roof starts leaking from the hydrostatic pressure caused by water building up on your roof, leading to repair costs that easily could have been avoided. But even houses with clean gutters need to watch out for ice dams if temperatures fall back below freezing. Check out our explanation of ice dams if you need help recognizing or removing ice dams from your property.

Keep Your Trees Well-Trimmed

Dead branches near your home, especially large, heavy dead branches from older trees, must be removed if you want to avoid the risk of damage to your roof and the physical structure of your home. All it could take is one heavy instance of snow, hail, or icy rain to cause them to fall and damage your home or vehicle.

Inspect Your Roof Regularly and Hire a Professional If Necessary

Start by examining your roof by walking around the outside of your home and check for any sagging, snow buildup, or structural issues. Give us a call if you notice any potential issues, or if it has been a long time since the last time you have performed maintenance on your roof. A simple phone call to the professionals here at Rhode Island Slate Roofing to inspect your roof for potential issues could save you thousands of dollars in repairs down the road.

Rhode Island’s relatively mild winter ended with the blizzards of the past few weeks. As such, one important service that Rhode Island Slate Roofing can provide to your home is ice dam removal. In freezing conditions with heavy snow like those we are currently experiencing in Rhode Island, your home may be vulnerable to ice dams. What is an ice dam and why should you care? Well, an ice dam is exactly what it sounds like — a frozen bit of ice that blocks water from properly draining through your gutter system, and it is something you should be aware of because it can cause thousands of dollars in water damage and even health risks from mold and mildew growth, when all the snow that had piled up on your roof melts and leaks through your roof and into your home instead of draining through your gutter system.

Ice dams are caused by the warm air inside your home melting the snow that piles up on the roof of your home. The melted snow flows until it reaches the edge of your roof and the gutter system, where it has become far enough from the warm air in your home to refreeze and form blocks of ice that interfere with proper drainage. If left unattended, hydrostatic pressure from the combination of the weight of the remaining unmelted snow above, and the ice blockage below forces water through the shingles of your roof, causing leaks and massive inconvenience to you, the homeowner.

The process of removing ice dams is fairly straightforward — simply get rid of the ice and get rid of the snow — but without specialized tools and roofing experience you could put yourself at risk of a serious injury if you were to fall from an inadequate ladder or using inferior tools to melt the ice. So consider Rhode Island Slate Roofing for our ice dam removal service. We can rid you of any potential ice dam issues with our quick and efficient service, and can save you potentially thousands of dollars in damage and saved headaches in the long run.