MUSKEGON, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – ..."Along with the cold, ice is a big issue right now. It's building up on roofs all across West Michigan. If it's not cleared out, that ice can back things up and cause all sorts of problems at your home. ...One of the best prevention methods is better insulation. The [more] heat that escapes your roof, the more snow melts and then refreezes"...
Along with the cold, ice is a big issue right now. It's building up on roofs all across West Michigan.
If it's not cleared out, that ice can back things up and cause all sorts of problems at your home.
Dozens of people at Trinity Manor, an assisted living center in Muskegon found that out first hand, when leaking caused electrical issues and forced evacuations. Those residents will not be able to return until the end of the week.
Newschannel 3 spoke to a roofing company about how you can avoid similar issues.
The owner of Otten Roofing in Wyoming says his employees have responded to a number of calls to free up ice problems following the heavy snow. He says keeping the heat in your home is key, and if there is a problem, call a licensed professional right away.
“It's extremely dangerous,” said a Muskegon man who asked not to be identified.
The man says he came home recently to find his elderly neighbors gone from their assisted living center, evacuated due to a problem with the roof.
“A lot of them are in wheelchairs, a lot of folks are with walkers,” said the neighbor. “I'm not understanding the maintenance issue.”
The man says he often helps out a neighbor he calls 'mom' and her friends clean huge icicles off the overhang. He considers them a danger from above.
“These icicles are just extraordinarily large and they're extraordinarily long and when they get clipped by the storm doors because they swing out, you know, they're going to land on their head and get knocked out,” said the neighbor.
A sign on the assisted living center reads “Attention Trinity residents. Due to ice damage that compromised the roof of the building we are still closed until repairs are completed.”
The problem is probably ice dams or ice jams, which can compromise homes.
“It's on the overhand, on the eave edges,” said Scott Otten, owner of Otten Roofing. “You get a lot of melt, and when the snow melts, runs off and hits the overhang that's not heated, you get a lot of ice build up.”
Ottens says ice dams can cause leaks, electrical problems and even flooding.
“Shingles aren't designed to be underwater,” said Otten, “so when you have an ice dam and get the snow melt and it backs up underneath the shingles, that water has nowhere to go.”
One of the best prevention methods is better insulation. The heat that escapes your roof, the more snow melts and then refreezes.
“If you see a flood of ice on the edges, it's probably worth making a phone call,” said Otten.
At Trinity Manor, repairs could be complete by Thursday. The City of Muskegon sent over an inspector to look at the building. Newschannel 3 called Trinity Manor for comment on the situation, but they did not return our calls.
SOURCE: Newschannel 3
