landmark associates solar panel installation

Check Your Roof Before “Going Solar”

by Roofing

Seems like everyone is “going solar” these days. It’s a hot trend that can have a positive impact on both the environment and your wallet. With government incentives, including the popular Solarize Massachusetts program that has resulted in more than 2700 new small-scale solar installations across the state, and the fact that electric rates are on the rise more and more people are jumping on the band wagon. But before YOU decide to jump, there are a couple of things you need to consider.

Solar companies are chomping at the bit to sign you up for solar. Don’t have a south-facing roof? “We’ll find away around that,” they say. Roof is shady? “Let’s cut down some trees and you’ll be all set!” But there’s one thing you can’t work around: your existing roof. Consider this:

  • Solar panels are projected to last 30 years. Unless your roof is brand spankin’ new, the panels could outlast the roof. Is your solar company going to be around (will they even exist?) to take the panels off, then reinstall them, while a roof is being done?
  • Solar panels add a lot of weight to your roof – can the existing structure handle the addition?
  • After a large storm, snow will melt and slide off of the panels … and possibly create an unwanted avalanche if your panels are right above your front door.
  • Solar companies will say that the panels actually protect the roof because they keep direct sunlight off of the shingles, but better to make sure your roof is in good shape to begin with.

The bottom line: solar companies are trying to lease or rent an expensive system to you. They are not concerned about your roof and certainly don’t want to suggest that you spend additional dollars on replacing or repairing the roof first. Our advice: have a qualified roofing specialist assess your roof before you sign on the dotted line. Better to find out that you need a new roof BEFORE those panels go up.

It’s a case of “penny wise vs. pound foolish.” If you’re going to spend the money on solar, you need to KNOW you have a solid roof first.

ice dams lead to water damage

Recovering from Water/Ice Damage

by RoofingTips for Homeowners
Tony Chiarelli tours a home with water damage in multiple rooms.

This winter was awful – I think we can all agree on that. Ice dams became a problem for many homeowners and condo managers that have never dealt with these issues before.

Sometimes homeowners are tempted to simply cover up the damage with a stain blocker and paint rather than open up the walls. However, if the water hasn’t properly dried up behind those walls, mold can grow. If you have carpet, it’s also important to pull up a part of the flooring to see if it’s still wet underneath. Even if the carpet feels dry, mold can grow on the tack strips that hold it down.

Need to see some evidence? We recently worked on a home where ice dams and water had come in in multiple locations. Take a look at the video to see what we found when we started opening up the walls.

the danger of ice dams

Buyer Beware: Don’t fall for gimmicks to prevent ice dams

by RoofingTips for Homeowners
Ice dams form as water under the “snow blanket” melts and refreezes at the edge of the room. Ice can then push its way up under the roof shingles.

As this year’s historic storms subside and homeowners across the region deal with the damage caused by massive ice dams, many will be looking for preventative measures to keep ice dams from forming in the future. I’ve investigated hundreds of cases of ice dams during my 25 years in the construction industry and, unfortunately, I’ve seen homeowners fall for sham solutions to keep ice dams from returning year after year.

Prevent Ice Dams with a COOL ROOF

Ice dams can’t form if the roof is the same temperature as the eaves. It’s important to hire a trusted contractor who can look at the entire home, understand the factors involved in why ice dams formed, and offer smart solutions to prevent them from recurring.

The truth is, there’s no single solution for ice dams. Some contractors and salespeople will try and convince homeowners that they offer the solution – whether it be a new product, covered gutters, heat cables, or even a whole new roof. As an example, we are currently working with a homeowner who was told that she’d never have ice dams again if she installed covered, seamless, gutters. Despite this ‘investment’ her home sustained a lot of water damage this year from the ice dams that formed in spite of the new gutters. Another homeowner was told that a new roof would be the answer. Thousands of dollars have been spent on new roofs and gutters, but the ice is still forming and the water is still getting inside and causing damage.

Ice Dam Solutions

When analyzing a home, here is what a good general contractor should be looking for:

  1. Insulation. Some homes may not have enough insulation. Or perhaps heat is escaping through recessed lighting or electrical fixtures which create “holes” in the insulation. The goal is to keep heat from escaping from the home and allow the roof to remain cool.
  2. Ventilation. Ice dams can’t form if you have a COLD roof. If your attic isn’t properly ventilated, allowing heat to escape and let cooler air in, the snow will melt from underneath the snow blanket and ice dams will form when the liquid meets the freezing temperature at the bottom. Ridge vents in combination with soffit vents allow cool air to circulate under the roof.
  3. Cover hatches and whole-home fans. Attic access hatches and fans in the ceiling can be a large source of heat loss. Covers, made from foil-lined foam board, are available to keep them covered and prevent heat from escaping.
  4. Heat cables. Sometimes strung in a zip-zag pattern across the bottom few feet of the roof, or placed directly in the gutters and downspouts, heat cables warm the roof or gutter assembly to keep the water flowing. However, this solution may only create channels in the ice dams as they form. Again, in order to prevent ice dams from forming, we need to get to the source of why they are forming.

After the contractor has made a thorough analysis of the home, they can create a course of action – which will most likely involve several recommendations. We don’t want homeowners to fall for scam solutions and waste money. Rather, we want them to make informed decisions that keep their homes dry and free of ice and water damage.

Tony Chiarelli Boston Real Estate Radio

Ice Dams: Why they form and how to prevent them

by RoofingTips for Homeowners

I recently had the pleasure of being a guest on Real Estate Radio, heard up and down the East Coast on WBZ-AM, NewsRadio 1030. We spent some time talking about ice dams – seems like everyone is talking about ice dams recently!  I know many friends and clients who are dealing with ice on their roofs and desperately trying to keep water from backing up into their homes.

During this episode, Real Estate Radio Hosts Rick and Ali, and I talk about how ice dams form and the many ways to try and remove them from your roof.  Take a listen and see if we can help you. Whatever you decide to do about ice dams, make sure you stay safe.  You may be able to safely use a snow rake, but don’t just get on the roof and start chipping away at the ice. Hire a professional to remove ice safely.

Click here to listen

Live on the air at WBZ NewsRadio.