Brooklyn Properties, Winter Roof Damage from Snow Storms, and a SERVPRO Solution

3/3/2020 (Permalink)

Flooded Attic in Brooklyn from a Snow Storm Melt Can Be Damaging--SERVPRO Can Help!

Can Ice Dams Flood Your Brooklyn Home?

During the winter months, your Brooklyn home could contend with several threats after sharp temperature drops and snowfall that can compromise the integrity and defense of your roof. Understanding these risks can help you to identify potential problems as they happen, but might not always be noticeable concerns until the damage has occurred. Ice damming is a threatening circumstance of the winter months, though many homeowners remain unclear as to how it happens and the damage it can do.

Flood damage from ice dams on Brooklyn homes is more common than many might think and is a situation that our storm response and flood recovery team have worked to restore for many properties. Ice dams form when uneven insulation under the roof exists, and warm patches can affect snowfall on the roof by warming up and melting some of the snow. With temperatures still below freezing outside, melting snow can refreeze along the edges of the roof and eaves, forming a barrier that continually grows more prominent and more threatening to the roof.

As this ice formation continues to grow and move up the roof, it can break off shingles and leave portions of the roof exposed to water penetration. What begins as a saturation of the roof underlayment can quickly develop into a steady leak or complete structural breach depending on the severity of the saturation points. Once underlying plywood becomes more than twenty percent saturated, dry rotting can occur, which allows for structural failures and flooding.

Our SERVPRO team must address these concerns as both the structural repair and the drying and restoration needed. Our in-house contractors can work to tarp over damaged portions of the roof until the technicians of our team have dried and restored exposed interior materials and contents. Between the air movers and desiccant dehumidifiers ideal for high humidity, we can minimalize moisture concerns to prepare the property for the roof repair necessary to make this loss “Like it never even happened.”

Ice dams can become a pressing concern for homeowners and a situation that presents flooding scenarios that must get addressed immediately. Our SERVPRO of Northwest Brooklyn professionals are ready 24/7 to help with your storm and flood loss disasters. Give us a call today at (929) 242-8662.