ISHPEMING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Heavy snow and ice buildup have already caused roofs to collapse at the Westwood Mall in Marquette and the VFW in Ishpeming. The freeze-thaw cycle adds to the problem, causing ice dams to form along the edge of roof lines.
Professional Roofers like Okler Roofing say even the smallest amount of ice can build up and add a significant amount of weight pressing down on your roof.
“Ice can be 57 pounds for a one-foot by one-foot block of ice, so that a one-foot ice dam running along a 60-foot eave could very well be over 5000 pounds,” said Ryan Okler, Owner of Okler Roofing.
Roofs can be treated that melt the ice, but Okler says breaking up the ice dams is usually the fastest way to solve the problem
“By fracturing that ice, you can remove it and pretty much mitigate that leakage immediately,” said Okler.
The formation of ice dams allows water to pool on your roof. It’s this standing water that eventually finds its way inside.
“Just because you had a new roof put on, if you have a large ice dam, the roof system still can leak if they hold water for long enough,” explained Okler.
Okler says the best way to remove ice from your roof is to leave it to a professional, because even the most careful homeowner using a shovel or scooper can cause serious damage to their roof.
“We’ve fixed a lot of places that, you know, somebody’s just up on the roof with a scoop or a shovel. They step through a skylight, wreck a vent, you know, there are a lot of things to watch out for,” warned Okler.
And lastly, if you have giant icicles hanging from your eaves, it may be a symptom of poor ventilation or poor insulation.
