Best Heat Tape for Downspouts to Prevent Ice Dams Frozen gutters and downspouts can be a hidden cause of winter leaks, both near the roof and around your foundation. When water can’t exit your gutters it can back up into the eaves and get into your walls. Another problem related to ice in your gutters […]
The Problem with Ice Dams When ice dams form on a roof, homeowners have very few safe options to remove them. Many try to chop at the ice with hammers or axes, but mechanical methods almost always result in roof damage. Over the years, we’ve seen hundreds of roofs scarred by well-intentioned people trying to […]
Ice dams are one of the most common and costly winter problems for homeowners in cold climates. This guide explains what they are, why they form and the best ways to prevent them, from architectural fixes to more budget-friendly solutions like self-regulating heat tape. What Are Ice Dams? Ice dams are ridges of ice that […]
What is a Valley? First things first. Let’s clear up the obvious question. A valley is simply a drainage line between two intersecting roof planes. A roof valley is no different than a valley in a mountainous landscape. It’s a low spot between two or more high spots. Valleys fall into two classifications, open and […]
Heat Cable Power Supply from Junction Boxes When possible, it’s great to have the power sources as close as possible to the heat tape installation area. In the case of a dormer that means installing the junction box under the eave (See Point 1). The wisdom being that because dormers are often isolated architectural features […]
Options for Metal Roof Heat Cable Clips Historically, there have been two methods for installing heat cable on standing seam metal roofs: 1) Glue clips to the surface or, 2) Use compression-based roof clamps that grip onto the standing seam. Both are valid approaches but both have their drawbacks. Option one leaves nasty adhesive behind […]
