Correcting the Damaging Effects of Snow to Your Home
December 27, 2011
Home maintenance is something that all homeowners have to pay extra attention to. Your home is there to provide you shelter, but you need to make sure that you’re also giving it the attention that it needs. Proper and regular home maintenance will ensure that your home lasts a long time, and that it will more or less be in the condition that it was when you first bought it.
Home maintenance is needed because over time, a lot of things will affect the physical appearance of your house. The material that it was built with will naturally depreciate and go through wear and tear, but other elements like weather will contribute to possibly damaging your house. If you maintain your home regularly, this will lessen the effects that the weather can do to it. This is especially true when winter comes, because it’s extra challenging to deal with the damaging effects of snow.
Snow is something that people look forward to, because it signals that winter has finally arrived. Even if it’s freezing cold, snow brings warm memories of snow fights and skiing and roasting marshmallows in a warm fire. However, snow can also be a nuisance, especially if it becomes uncontrollable. Snow is also quite challenging to deal with when it comes to home maintenance, because it causes a lot of things that can be potentially damaging to your home. This is the reason why as a homeowner you should be extra cautious when winter comes, and you should also make sure that you are equipped with the right tools and techniques to deal with all that snow.
Home Maintenance Tips
What you have to remember about snow is that it can mess with your ventilation and humidifiers. It can cause ice dams on your rooftop, which can lead to messy leaks and roof damage. Excessive condensation on windows and glass panes can also cause damage. Here are a few home maintenance tips that you can take note of every time winter arrives:
• Make sure your roof is well ventilated to prevent ice dams and icicles from forming.
• Regularly use a shovel to clear your driveway and walkway of ice. You can use rock salt to prevent slippery paths.
• Make sure your vents and gas meters are clear of ice.
• Regularly check drains and make sure you clean them.
• Clean your humidifier and ventilation system filters.
Preparedness is Key
It’s clear that when it comes to correcting the potentially damaging effects of snow in your home, preparedness is critical. You shouldn’t wait for the snow to cause irreversible damage, because there are several ways to prevent it. In case you’re really caught unprepared and some damage is done, it’s best to get in touch with the professionals and seek their advice as to how to correct the damage. You can prevent the damage from happening, but when it happens it’s best to leave it to those who know how to correct it properly.
Great Plains Deadly Snowfall Halting Traffic
December 20, 2011
A large snowstorm rolled into the Great Plains Monday, dropping heavy snow and bringing with it high winds. The storm has made roadways icy and has put many people’s holiday travel plans in jeopardy.
Two were killed in Colorado when a vehicle left an icy highway. At least one storm-related death is being reported in Texas. From New Mexico to the panhandle of Texas and northern regions of Kansas, blizzard-like weather has road workers on high alert and travelers exiting early to find cover from the storm. Snow fell at one and one half inches per hour in northern Oklahoma where many residents have already decided (or have been forced) to miss work Tuesday due to extreme low visibility and hazardous drifting snow.
A portion of I-24 was closed in New Mexico north of Santa Fe.State Police there report that they have received a very high number of distress calls from motorists stuck on back roads. People in Clayton, NM say that they do not recall such a massive snow storm there since the mid 1970s when cows had to be air-lifted via helicopters and the National Guard was summoned to help.
Authorities in Texas have reported that nearly 100 people have been rescued from their vehicles by the National Guard as shelters were being opened to provided those stranded with a place to ride out the nasty weather. Many people living in the Great Plains states who were planning on doing long-distance traveling by car have been forced to delay their holiday plans. The pre-winter storm has put a halt to any long distance traveling – at least for early this week as highways and rural roads in the region are a mess.
The deadly snowstorm that struck the nation’s heartland is moving eastward. The mid-Mississippi Valley is expected to be hit with areas of rain, freezing rain and snow as well as with possible thunderstorms. Blizzard warnings are forecasting snow accumulations of up to eighteen inches in the Plains and in regions further east as the massive storm barrels its way across the country.
In Texas, flights were canceled Monday afternoon at the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport Monday although things are expected to get back to normal by Tuesday morning. To the north in Oklahoma, the roads and highways were completely packed with snow or covered in ice, making them extremely hazardous. Officials there were warning people to stay at home and to only venture out in the case of “extreme emergency” due to the declining roadway conditions.
Roof Repairs Know What You Can Do
December 12, 2011
Roof repairs have to be done ideally before the rainy days and the cold weather. It is a sensible thing to check the roof and shingles properly for any cracks or corrosion that you can take care of. You can choose to repair the roof yourself or hire professionals to do the needful. If you have confidence to do it yourself, you can do it but if you feel that you do not have the expertise meant for it, you can hire a contractor or roof repairer who can help you with this.
Do not take roof repairs lightly, if you ignore it, there can be damage not only to the ceiling but also to the floorings, the carpets, the furniture, the electronics and other appliances. You can check the roof for any problems or potential problems during the summer or spring months. Checking does not only mean looking out for leaks or cracks but also to find out the overall condition of the roof. You can find out if there is any mold, mildew or lichen growth in the lining or water accumulation. If your roof is in good condition your home will also be in shape for a long period of time.
Remember that there have been quite a few accidents due to not taking proper precautions while repairing the roof. Safety is definitely a priority and if you are not wearing the right gear or not having the correct tool-box, there can be problems. For instance, if you are not careful while climbing up the roof or if you do not have proper things like ladder and other safety equipment, you may end up hurting yourself badly. Also it is important to carry the right kind of tools and sealant. If you are climbing up along a steep line, it can be difficult to carry the toolbox. So, it is better if you climb up the roof first and if you have a helper who can give you these things by climbing a few steps up the ladder.
Next, you should use your flashlight to inspect for any cracks or holes in the shingles or in other parts of roofs like the vents, chimneys etc. Through the set of tools like hammer, nails and cement, you can get rid of the old shingles and fix the new ones. It is important to apply cement copiously and evenly. Chimneys are known for being prone to leaks. Look out for the metals around the chimney, it may have become loose. You may have to apply fresh coat of cement to tighten the area. Reseal any vents in the roofs that may be faulty. For instance, if you see anything that is coming out the roof, it may mean that even though the roof is in good condition, the openings can cause a problem. So, make sure that you reseal them properly in order to avoid any problem.
