tip of the week: some advice, 'snow problem

I've lived in New England all my life (with the exception of my college years in Misery...uh, I mean Missouri) and I don't remember being this bombarded by snow since I was a kid. I mean we've had bigger storms in recent years than any we've had this year, but it seems we have another foot-plus dumped on us each week. The current totals for my area before the two storms this week was over 60 inches. That's over 5 feet of snow. And the big problem has been the cold weather which hasn't been allowing it to melt. So we still had about 3 feet of standing snow by the time these storms hit. Turning out of my driveway is like a game a chicken. Anyway, one of the big problems that has made its way on the news recently has been roofs and decks collapsing. In this week's "tip of the week" I thought I'd give some practical advice to ensure this doesn't happen to you. (Keep in mind that I'm not claiming to be an expert here and I will not take any responsibility for collapsed roofs or decks. If you think you might have a problem, please call a professional.)

Preventative Maintenance - One of the most important things you can do to ensure your roof doesn't collapse can be done long before the first snowflake falls. There are many things that can be done, but I want to hit on what is, in my opinion, the biggest: proper insulation. It is extremely important to properly insulate your attic so the heat does not escape up there from the house below. Not only will this save on your heating bill and make for a greener planet, but heated attics are one of the biggest causes for collapsed roofs. Why? If your attic is heated, it works toward melting the snow on the roof. Sounds like it would help then, right? Wrong. Melted snow turns into water which turns into ice in the cool of the night. Instead of having a lot of snow on your roof, you could end up with a lot of ice. And in case you have forgotten your experiments from chemistry class, ice is heavier, causing more problems. Proper insulation in your attics floorboards and seals around your attic door will be a big help in keeping your roof from collapsing.

Keep up with the Snow - First, invest in a roof rake and a good shovel. These will be your friend. Second, don't wait until the snow is beyond your control to rake your roof and shovel your deck. Do your best to keep your deck clear as the snowstorms hit. It's not reasonable to rake your roof after each snowfall, but it's also not reasonable to wait until there's 5 or 6 feet of snow either.

Money Well Spent - Don't be afraid to pay a professional. Some people have houses that have tough-to-reach roofs and roof-raking may not be practical. It may cost money to have a professional come and shovel/rake off your roof, but it will be money well spent. Would you rather fork out a couple/few hundred now or thousands later. That's really up to you.

I've blogged before about how my brother and I used to make beaucoup dollars shoveling when we were younger. It seems kids don't really take advantage of the "white gold" anymore. That's too bad as that can provide a win-win if you're too busy to keep up with all this snow.

I hope these tips help. Oh, and please watch out for falling icicles.

*Bonus: Worried about driving in the snow. Here's a quick tip that could put some of your worries at ease. Be sure to check your tires before the snow comes to make sure they still have tread on them. All-wheel drive vehicles and great braking systems are nice, but neither will do you much good if your tires are warn. Also be sure that you have proper windshield wipers that aren't worn so you have a fighting chance against that icy buildup.