Category Archives: Roofing Safety Tips

Categories News, Roofing Contractors, Roofing Safety Tips

The dangers of Ice Dams, and how they can damage your home

The dangers of Ice Dams, and how they can damage your home

The cold winter weather can be tough on your home. Heavy snowfall can cause the roof to collapse. Even the snow melting can cause issues, because of the phenomena of ice dams.

What are ice dams?

Ice dams are a buildup of ice along the edges of a roof caused by melting snow turning into water. This can happen from temperatures outside increasing or by the warm air inside the building heating up the underside of the roof enough to melt the snow. These buildups will slowly grow over time. Eventually, the ice will grow tall enough to create a dam, blocking future snowmelt from falling off the roof. Because the water has nowhere else to go, it will pool next to the ice and stay there, either freezing into more ice or seeping into the roof itself.

How do ice dams create issues for your home?

The first major issue of ice dams is the water. With nowhere else to go, it will seep into the roof, damaging the shingles and supports. After that, the water can then spread further into your attic, leading to in-home water damage. This can result in major structural damage to your home, from rotting wooden support to water leaks from damage shingles.

In addition to that, the large ice buildup of the dam can cause its own set of issues. For starters, the dam can grow icicles, which if large enough, can cause damage if they fall. The buildup of ice will also be very heavy, which can cause damage to the eaves or gutters it grows on. Heavy buildup of ice can bend the eaves and gutters, making them unable to work properly. In a worst case scenario, the ice dam can become too heavy for your gutters to handle, bringing them down and needing a total replacement.

How to prevent ice dams?

There are multiple ways to prevent ice dams from forming, but their degree of success and difficulty can range quite a bit. The easiest way is to keep your gutters clear of fall debris that can create blockages that help ice dams form. This isn’t a perfect solution, as it only lowers the risk and won’t completely mitigate it. Another simple measure to lower your risk is to use a rake or similar object to remove snow buildup from the edges of the roof, making it easier for the melting snow to fall off.

For more complex solutions, installing heating cables on the roof or gutters will help ensure the snow melts before it can ice over, keeping your house free from ice dams. There are also special venting installations that can be installed in the attic in order to keep the roof the same temperature as the eaves, preventing the warm air inside the home from warming the roof. These methods are more complicated, but they offer much better protection against ice dams.

Despite these prevention measures, there is no way to guarantee an ice dam won’t form. Be sure to regularly check your attic in the winter for any leakage, in addition to checking the eaves and gutters for large ice buildup. If you do find any damage from ice dams, give Aloha Construction a call! Our experienced professionals can restore or replace your roof and gutters to keep your home safe from the elements.

Categories Local Roofers, News, Roofing Contractors, Roofing Safety Tips

Aloha Construction answers the question: My Roof is Leaking. Is It covered by insurance?

Every day, we get homeowners who call in saying: My ceiling is leaking water. What do I do? My roof is leaking. Is it covered by my insurance? Being bonded and trusted roofers, we felt it was our duty to give you a behind-the-scenes look of our inspection process.

When your roof leaks in heavy rain or you notice anything off, you should ask yourself the following questions:

Is your Ice & Water shield per city code?

Are your shingle rows straight?

Are water lines straight?

Are the shingles of the roof nailed in the proper location?

Are the shingles nailed per code?

Are the shingles laying down properly?

Is the ridge straight?

Is the ridge capped properly?

Are the ridge cap nails sealed?

Is there an overhang on rakes and eaves? Is it per code?

Is the rake double nailed?

Is the rake clean cut and straight?

Valley(s) installed properly?

Valley(s) clean cut and straight?

Lead stacks bent over properly?

Are PVC boots installed properly?

Is the chimney properly counterflashed?

Is the drip edge installed properly?

Are all exposed nails sealed?

Is everything painted? Stacks/Flashing

 

As always, don’t get caught with a major roofing problem that you originally diagnosed as minor. Call the experts!

Categories Local Roofers, Local Siding Contractors, News, Roofing Safety Tips

When a roof needs to be replaced? Why do shingles curl up? Local Roofing Contractors Aloha Construction provides some insight!

According to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, research shows that four out of five homes use this type of Asphalt shingle roofing materials. With more than 12.5 billion square feet produced every year, asphalt shingles cover about five million homes annually.

In Illinois, we get much wider daily temperature swings, during both winter and summer, than most other places in the US. This is tough on all roofing materials, but asphalt shingles in particular. Although asphalt shingles are known for their durability, they may suffer from problems over time. Here are some common shingle issues that Bonded and Insured Roofers Aloha Construction, Inc. deal with on the job:

1. Blistering

Blisters are elevated sections on the shingles and rooftop. Tiny blisterss indicate aging. If the shingles are new and fresh, the blisters may be a manufacturer’s defect. Poor roof ventilation is also a cause here.

2. Curling

Curling is usually moisture-related. Moisture get in the shingles during the manufacturing process or because of poor ventilation. Problems that arise: The dimensions of the shingles may change when the moisture eventually escapes. Depending on the severity of the problem, you may need to call us to replace the entire roof.

3. Raised Shingles

Improper installation may lead to raised shingles that are not strong enough to resist wind uplift. This is one of the reasons it’s important to hire a licensed and certified Illinois roofing contractor  for a fullroof replacement or repair.

4. Premature Cracking

Surface cracking, which doesn’t split the shingles completely, is part of the aging process. Cracking may also occur because of stress, shingle movement caused by high winds, and deck movement.

5. Thermal Splitting or Tearing

Thermal tearing happens when extreme temperature changes cause the shingles to crack or split completely. When undetected, the cracks or splits may let moisture in through the shingles and other layers of the roof.

6. Granule Loss

Granule loss is typically a sign of the lifespan of your roof. Time for a check up!

Categories Local Roofers, Roofing Safety Tips

BE SAFE: Falling from Roofs account for One Third of all Construction Industry Fatalities

Getting on a roof is dangerous. Growing up, if you were the type to climb out of your bedroom window, chances are your parents scolded you with the lesson of “be weary of heights.” While this may seem just like a normal case of parental concern, the numbers support your parents. Climbing on your home’s roof is not something to be taken lightly. Shingle materials often don’t lend to standard shoe grip and, if there are any wet spots, it can be almost impossible depending on your angle. Considering tackling a roofing job on your own? Maybe it’s best to leave it to the bonded and insured roofing and siding experts.

According to a study done by the Center for Construction Research and Training Data Center, from 1992 to 2009, falls account for 1/3 of ALL construction industry fatalities. 6,591 people died from falling and, of that number, 2,163 of those people fell off roofs. Those 2,163 people accounted for a whopping 76% of all the fatalities in our beloved roofing industry and, to put it all in perspective, roofers are 3 times more likely to experience fatal work related injuries than any other construction worker type. Finally, to show how this applies to you – the homeowner, 34% of ALL FALLS happen at residential home projects.

Think about those numbers for a second. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE have passed away trying to simply tackle a roofing job in the United States. This post isn’t a sales plot. We urge you to take this seriously.

On that note, if you are planning to still tackle that project on your own, take a look at our Fall Protection Equipment Checklist:

All employees working 6+ feet above lower levels MUST USE FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

  • Acceptable forms of fall equipment include:
    • Guardrails
    • Safety Nets
    • Personnel Fall Arrest Systems (may consist of Full Body Harness, Deceleration Devices, Lanyards, and Anchor Points)
  • Harnesses are to be worn AT ALL TIMES on job site
    • Safety Harness Inspected
  • Inspect the Webbing
  • Inspect the Hardware
    • Inspect Ropes and Lanyards
    • Check your installation
  • Calculate Falling Distance
  • Safety goggles must be worn
  • Hard Hat Worn
  • Ladder in Proper Position

Hopefully, with this insider roofer’s safety list, you can take the necessary safety steps in your upcoming DIY project. Be careful. The moment you feel you are out of your element. Call the experts. We are just one call or click away should you need expert roofing assistance.

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Aloha Construction Inc.