Snow and Ice Damage Claims Philadelphia

Snow and Ice Damage Claims

We are your snow and ice damage claims experts.

 

When the temperature drops below freezing, and there is rain and snow, it causes ice to form which presses on the external infrastructure and causes parts of the building to break away. The build- up and melting of ice on the roof can also cause water to permeate under the roof covering. This is called ice damming.

 

What are ice dams?

When the temperature inside your attic or crawl space below your roof is above freezing, snow / ice on the roof will likely melt. When the melted snow or ice runs down the roof and hits the colder eaves, it refreezes.

 

If this cycle repeats over many days, the freezing snow / ice builds up and forms a dam of ice, behind which water pools up into large puddles. This puddling water can then back up under the roof shingles and leak into the attic or along outside walls.

 

The optimal weather conditions for ice dams are usually when outside air temperatures are in the low to upper 20s (°F) for several days with several inches of snow on the roof.

 

Heavy snow and ice can collapse roofs, especially on older buildings. Older homes and buildings have a greater risk of corrosion, which can weaken its structural integrity. Newer buildings that have roofs that are flat or do not have adequate supports are more likely to collapse under the pressure of heavy snow and ice.

Where there are heavy wet snowfalls, especially multiple storms, partial or full collapses can result on roofs and even entire buildings.

 

In some cases, you should be concerned about the snow/ice loads on:

 

• Roof overhangs / eaves
• Multilevel roofs
• Valleys
• Flat roofs
• Shingled roofs

Save with Winter Preventative Maintenance

 

Try and keep ice off roofs that are sloped, make sure your attic is well ventilated, so the snow does not melt and turn to ice. Snow and ice that melts can enter a roof via the eaves and flat roofs can experience water damage if ice dams form.

 

Snow that builds up on walls and windows can also cause water damage if it melts and leaks in through improperly sealed windows. Basement drains, window wells, and gutters need to be cleaned and unobstructed.

 

Twelve inches of fresh snow or 4-6 inches of old or packed snow equals 1 inch of water and 5 lbs. of pressure for every square foot on your roof. Preventative property maintenance is key during the stormy winter months to help avoid costly repairs.

Why Trust Us to Handle Your Snow and Ice Damage Claims