| CHICAGO -- Syndicated columnist Tim Carter, of Tribune Media Services' ASK THE BUILDER column, offers useful suggestions to help homeowners assess potential damage from the recent storms that pummeled the east coast.
Roof damage
The weight of a heavy snow accumulation can stress the wooden roof framing trusses, which can result in serious damage. If the trusses were improperly made or damaged as the house was being constructed, the metal connecting plates that hold the wood members together can begin to pull out of the wood, causing the wood truss to separate.
Homeowners should go to their attic and check all of the metal connecting plates. Any gap larger than 1/4" between the plates and wood should be photographed, and the photos should be taken ASAP to a local truss fabrication plant for a structural engineer to review. The service usually ranges from free to about $50.
Roof Ventilation
While in the attic, homeowners should check for condensation on any of the roof framing or underside of the roof. Also look for frost, or in a worst cases scenario mold and mildew. These are all signs improper roof ventilation. At the earliest possible time, homeowners should install continuous ridge and soffit ventilation, or standard roof pot or wind turbine vents, to help pull air through the attic.
Preparation
To prepare for the next heavy snowfall, owners of single story houses should create a device to help pull snow from the roof. This can be a simple as a modified hard garden rake. Attach a five inch high piece of wood to the metal rake teeth, and attach a long one and one half inch diameter dowel rod to the handle with screws. Homeowners should never endanger themselves by going up on the roof to shovel snow, but rather should use a long-handled instrument to pull snow down from the roof. Clearing even half of the snow helps alleviate stress on the roof.
Tim Carter's Web site Askthebuilder.com (http://www.askthebuilder.com ) offers numerous other tips for snow related problems.
An expert homebuilder and renovation and remodeling contractor, Tim Carter has 20 years of hands-on experience in the home industry. His syndicated column ASK THE BUILDER is a how-to-get-it-done-right Q&A guide for all types of building projects.
This eUpdate posting by: Steve Joyce
Source: PRNewswire
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