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As the weather grows colder, it’s a good time to perform some routine maintenance on your home, such as cleaning out your gutters , to get ready for the winter season. Is your roof in good shape and ready for another snowy, icy winter in the Midwest? One of the difficulties of living in a climate that is prone to snow and ice storms is ice dam formation on your roof. Ice dams are the buildup of ice and snow on the edges and eaves of your roof. This can cause beautiful icicles —and damage to your roof , broken gutters, and water infiltration. What causes ice dams? After a significant snow with sustained sub-freezing temperatures, your roof may be covered by a thick layer of snow. Your roof should ideally be the same temperature or colder than the air outside, so snow would melt from the outside layer and evaporate or run off the top of an outer, icy crust. Often, however, a home’s heat seeps through your ceiling into the attic and through the roof. This makes the roof warmer than the outside temperature and melts the bottom layer of the snow sitting atop it. On sloped roofs, the melted snow trickles down the roof—under the snowpack. But the edges of the roof are colder, since they hang over cold air rather than sitting on top of the heat-leaking home. When the runoff gets to the colder edges, it freezes, blocking further runoff like a dam. Over time, this mound of ice builds up; it can happen extremely quickly, especially if your gutters are obstructed . As the ice dam grows, it prevents water from flowing off the roof, giving it a great opportunity to seep between the seams of your roof shingles and into your home. This can cause damage to your roof structure and insulation, water infiltration, and harmful mold growth. The ice blockages can also damage gutters and create hazards for people and animals below. How Can Heat Cables Help Ice Dam Prevention? Heat cables, also known as heat tape, heat wire, or roof ice cables, are heated cables that can be attached to your roof. If you have problems with ice building up on the eaves of your home and forming ice dams, running heat cables in problem areas may seem like a great solution to help melt the ice. Heat cables melt channels through already-formed ice dams to minimize ice buildup. Ideally, they can help provide a path for snowmelt to drain off your roof rather pooling behind the dam. This may help prevent water infiltration into your roof deck and home. They are usually installed in patterns along the eaves, in valleys on the roof, around chimneys and skylights, and in gutters or downspouts. They can be a helpful tool when used as part of a comprehensive snow and ice removal plan to combat roof leaks. They are especially useful for very limited problem areas where you are unable to address the underlying cause of ice dam formation. If you have widespread ice dams on your home, however, you likely have issues with your attic insulation , ventilation , or roof. The most common areas of the home for ice dams to form are In valleys of the roof On low-angle roofs Around chimneys and skylights At the eaves of the roof (by far, the most common spot) Heat cables are often the first things that come to mind for homeowners attempting to deal with ice dams. First and foremost, it is very important to understand that heat cables do NOT prevent ice dams from forming or get rid of them altogether. They merely melt channels through the formed ice dams to minimize the amount of buildup and partially remove snow from the area. In order to prevent ice dams, you need to target the source of the problem . Advantages of Installing Heat Cables If heat cables are correctly and professionally installed, they can be very useful in minimizing water buildup behind ice dams. While they are not a permanent solution, they are a great choice if you need a quick fix. They are also much less costly than sealing air leaks in the attic, installing adequate insulation, and creating proper ventilation systems. The biggest advantage is the simple fact that heat cables will protect your gutters from filling with ice, breaking off, and harming your roof. Disadvantages of Installing Heat Cables Heat cables take electricity to operate. If you leave them running all winter long, your electric bills are sure to increase. You will also need to monitor them to make sure they don’t overheat or use more power than necessary. Heat cables may protect your home from ice damage, but they aren’t pretty and can detract from its curb appeal. Because they don’t address the underlying problem, this approach could end up being more costly in the long term. Most often, ice dams form due to poor attic insulation or ventilation, improper roof installation, or roof damage. All of these factors contribute to a roof that stays warmer than 30°F during freezing weather. Have a roofing professional perform an energy audit before freezing and snowy weather sets in. Following their recommendations for reinforcing specific areas of your attic or roof insulation can make a big difference in preventing ice dams. Contact us to see if the heat cable is right for your home.

Did you know that Americans, on average, spend 90% of their time indoors? And many of us have spent more than that at home over the past year. That's why, in normal and not-so-normal times, it's important that our homes meet our thermal comfort needs. But how do you plan for that when thermal comfort can vary so drastically from person to person? Scientists think the key is in air movement and natural ventilation. In other words, skylights may be just what your home designs need to improve thermal comfort for your future homeowners  Thermal Comfort Parameters Before we can understand how skylights improve thermal comfort, we must first talk about the parameters that go into thermal comfort. According to the Fanger Model , developed in 1970, there are six parameters that affect our thermal comfort in a home: Metabolism Clothing insulation Air temperature Air motion Mean radiant temperature Relative humidity Psychological parameters, such as individual expectations, also affect thermal comfort. The Fanger Model assesses thermal comfort in given spaces based on temperature and occupancy satisfaction, and it has found these parameters to affect thermal comfort the most. And with the exception of clothing and metabolism, skylights can help influence all of them. How Skylights Improve Thermal Comfort Let's tackle those four parameters of thermal comfort one by one to see how skylights influence and improve them. Air temperature: Venting skylights can be used to naturally adjust the temperature of an interior space. They open slightly, creating a breeze that releases warmer air and humidity. Air motion: Venting skylights, when opened with vertical windows, can mobilize air all throughout a home through a phenomenon known as the Stack Effect, which we'll talk about more below. Mean radiant temperature: Skylight accessories, like shades and the Smart Home compatible VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO , can help contribute to temperature consistency in the home. Relative humidity: When venting skylights open, they allow accumulated humidity to escape, which can help prevent too much moisture in the home's air that could lead to mold or mildew. Utilizing the Stack Effect As we mentioned above, the Stack Effect occurs when skylights and vertical windows are opened at the same time. Through the open skylights, warmer, stale air that's become trapped in the roof or ceiling can escape. While this is happening, cooler fresh air comes in through the vertical windows. This creates a cooling effect that can work throughout the whole home if skylights and vertical windows are strategically placed.

Are you prepared for hail storm season in Colorado? If you live in or around the Denver or Colorado Springs area, the odds are good that you’ll be hit with a Denver or Colorado Springs hail storm at some point throughout the year. Hail in Colorado falls hard and fast, and it can be difficult for the average homeowner to spot damage. The size of each hail stone and how fast it’s falling, combined with other factors like wind and storm duration, can spell trouble for aging roofs. If you’re not sure how well your roof will stand up to the next intense hail storm, you should have a professional roof inspection performed . Here are six things you should expect from a roof inspection for hail damage. 1. Your Inspection Starts With You After a storm has passed and it’s safe to go outside, walk around your house and take note of any damage. Doing so will help you get a general idea of the extent of any damage, although you’ll still need a professional inspection to know exactly how much damage your roof has sustained. From the ground, you can take a look at your homes’: Siding Windows Gutters Downspouts (don’t forget to check for shingle granules—this can indicate damage to your asphalt shingles that’s commonly caused by falling hail) 2. Your Roofing Contractor Will Look at Your Roof First and foremost, please don’t get on your roof! Roofing is one of the most dangerous careers out there, and you should have adequate safety training before getting on your roof, especially if it has a steep pitch or slope. Bear in mind that your roofing contractor may opt to also use a drone for your roof inspection. 3. They Will Look at Everything That Hail Can Damage Your roofing contractor doesn’t just look at your shingles during a roof inspection. They also inspect your: Gutters Flashing Soffit and fascia Siding Windows Subroofing material and your roof’s decking Chimney and Outdoor appliances (AC units or swamp coolers) And any hidden damage like water leaks in your attic Your roofing contractor will also check to make sure that your roof is properly ventilated, and check the number of layers on your roof. 4. A Roof Inspection Also Checks for Wind Damage Roof inspectors also check for wind damage, which is common throughout the changing seasons in Colorado. Strong winds can cause as much damage as hail, and the most severe storms combine strong winds with hail. 5. Your Roofing Contractor Will Provide an Estimate & Recommendations Once the inspection is complete, your roofing contractor will provide a detailed estimate for exterior storm restoration or a total roof replacement cost. This is your chance to ask questions about the damage they’ve identified and what they recommend for repairing it. 6. Contact Your Homeowner’s Insurance After Your Inspection After your inspection is complete and you know whether your hail damage merits roof repair or a total roof replacement, it’s time to contact your homeowner’s insurance company to get the estimate and work authorized. They typically send out an insurance claim adjuster to perform an inspection to verify the estimate. It’s a good idea to also have your roofing contractor meet with the insurance adjuster to explain and discuss any damage. Once your insurance approves your claim, work can begin on repairing your hail-damaged roof. Go With the Best Local Roofing Company Unfortunately, not all roofing contractors are the same. In fact, there are plenty of roofing scams you should be aware of and avoid to ensure your home has the best protection for years to come. Wyndhill Roofing has been around for nearly 10 years and is experienced in identifying and solving storm damage to roofs and exteriors throughout the Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Front Range areas. We’re ready to tackle your roofing project and help protect your home and family.