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Archives for December 2019

Safety Tips for Christmas Decorations on Your Roof

December 16, 2019 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

The very best of holidays to you and yours! Infinite Roofing, as your local roofing contractors, want you and your family to be safe and sound this year and we offer this disclaimer: No one should try to attempt hanging Christmas lights when snow or ice is visible on the ground or on the roof, or during wet weather conditions.

Homeowners should follow all local roofing and safety codes, and ensure their own safety whenever they go up on a rooftop this year. We strongly advise that no homeowner should stand or walk on a roof without taking the proper precautions. If you really have to walk and stand on the roof this Christmas, take care to avoid damaging to your roof and shingles. We recommend that you always have someone assist you during the entire installation process, even just to keep a watchful eye.

The holiday is fast approaching and people are getting into the Christmas spirit, which means many Capital Region homeowners are thinking about all those amazing lights and eye-catching decorations. Fantastic, large-scale displays featuring holiday lights and decorations are more popular now than ever before. Neighborhoods are lighting up with outdoor lights, from yard displays to festooned trees, to lights all over the house exterior. However, please remember that if installed incorrectly, these electric lights and decorations can also be dangerous and it is important to address any safety issues so that your decorations are able to hold up during the extreme local winter conditions we may receive.

When dealing with your holiday decorations, it is very important that you set everything up in a way that does not damage your roof and put you or anyone else in harm’s way. Rooftop holiday decorations and lights can add a special touch to your roof. However, installing these decorations, especially electric lights, and moving apparatus can be very dangerous.

Roof Safety

Before you start any roof lighting projects, any experienced local roofing contractor will remind you to always put safety first. No matter what your roof safety plan is, it’s important to have someone on hand while you work. They can manage your tools and hand you supplies and decorations so that you’re completely focused on the task at hand. They can help you use the ladder safely by holding the ladder to steady it.  Unless you are decorating the chimney or the ridge at the top of your roof, you really should not need to walk on your roof, which can be very dangerous and needs some knowledge as well as additional safety equipment. Great displays are ones people see from the street level, so it’s not really necessary to go above the eave line to have a beautifully decorated roof.

If you do have to step on any portion of the roof surface, or even just in general for working from a ladder, wear sturdy gym shoes that have a good grip and are easy on the roof surface. You really don’t want to have to call in your local roofing contractors prematurely in the New Year, but even worse would be if you or a loved one ended up requiring medical attention for not taking appropriate precautions.

Check your Holiday Lights and Equipment 

Another top Infinite Roofing tip for the best roofing safety practice with your Christmas lights is to make sure that all your lighting strands are in good working order and that you have enough of them to cover the area you plan to illuminate. Of course, you must check and make sure they are all rated for outdoor use. Draw up a thorough plan to best install any holiday lights you have on hand. Lay the strands of lights out in your home a few days before you plan to install them. Look for any frayed wires that could be a fire hazard. Now’s a good time to replace broken or missing strands of bulbs. Promptly get rid of any strands that aren’t up to par, it’s not worth the risk!

Protect your Roof & Shingles

Before installing your lights on the roof, be sure to stock up on plastic clips or hooks on hand for attaching the lights to the eaves or gutters.  Plastic clips have a far less damaging effect on your roof compared to nails or metal hooks. Having outdoor extension cords where you need them to be is important and makes it easier for you to get everything lit up when it’s time. You can attach the light strands to shingles, eaves or gutters. One really important thing is to not hang anything heavy along with the lights because this can cause damage to the components of your roof. If you find extremely loose gutters or fixtures, get them repaired before hanging lights on them, as they may further loosen or fall down during harsh winter weather, taking all your decorations with them.  Using nails that would put a hole in your roof is a huge no! The structure of your roof is vital and any little hole can eventually lead to a much larger hole and allow moisture to seep into the roof. Plastic lighting clips are very simple and inexpensive. Most hardware stores carry these clips around their lighting and tree displays. You can also use plastic zip ties which will not harm your roof fixtures. If you plan to put heavy displays on the roof be sure they are secured with something that doesn’t pierce the roof so they don’t fall down and damage the roof in a high wind. 

Types of Christmas Light Roof Clips & Roof Fasteners 

When you’re hanging Christmas lights on a roof, you shouldn’t use any fasteners that would be able to puncture the shingle or any other part of the roof, such as nails, staples or screws. Even small holes in the shingles can create leaks. Small holes in gutters may allow water to leak where it shouldn’t and holes in the fascia board may cause it to rot. This could later cause you to require a roof repair or even a replacement.  No one wants to spend their Christmas money on a whole new roof when using fasteners that will not create holes could have been used instead. If you’re unfamiliar with roofs, now is a good time for you to learn about all the parts of your roof and the roof edge before you put up your Christmas lights.

So, if you shouldn’t puncture holes in the shingles, how do you secure Christmas lights to your roof? The solution is to use specialized plastic clips that can hug the gutters and they won’t leave a lasting mark. By using these clips you can have a huge display, with as many fasteners as you need, without worrying about leaving a bunch of holes in your roof. 

On areas of the roof that do not have gutters, attach the clips to the drip edge or the shingles, but be careful to avoid lifting the shingles in a way that breaks the sealant bond to the shingle below it. Avoid puncturing holes in your shingles or siding. Alternatively, you can use adhesive strips to attach the clips to the vertical face of your home. Just be sure you don’t puncture the surface!

How Can I Hang Christmas Lights Without Making Holes Step by Step

  • Locate an electrical outlet. Plan to run heavy-duty extension cords on a working 120-volt electrical outlet protected by a ground-fault circuit breaker. Ideally, you should use a switch-controlled outlet, or plug the lights into an automatic timer. Both the outlet’s circuit and the timer must be rated to handle the combined amperes of all light strings that will be connected. Do not use an indoor timer outdoors.
  • Measure the lengths. Using a long measuring tape, measure the length of your house along the ground. Also, measure its height and the height of any bushes or trees you intend to light. Then measure the lengths of the light strings you will need to outline doors or windows. Figure out the number of 50-foot light strings it will take for all of these measurements.
  • Test the lights. Before you plug them in, visually inspect the light string, looking for broken or missing bulbs and worn or defective wiring. If you discover faulty wires, replace the string entirely as this could present a fire hazard. If any bulbs are broken or missing, you should definitely replace them.

To extract a broken bulb, wear gloves and use long-nose pliers. Once a light string is complete, plug it in and check for burnt-out bulbs. Unplug the string before replacing faulty bulbs and then retest it to be sure all the lights work. If the string doesn’t work at all, check it for a blown fuse, per the manufacturer’s directions. If the fuse has blown, replace it; if it blows again, replace the entire string.

  • Set up a ladder. If your home’s eaves are low, you may be able to use a stepladder; otherwise, plan to use an extension ladder. Place it firmly on flat ground and, extending it well above the eaves, lean it against the eaves at an angle that will be comfortable and safe to climb; neither too steep nor too flat. If you must lean the ladder against the gutter, place a short piece of 2 by 4 inside the gutter to reinforce it. 
  • Hang the lights along the eaves. Your objective is to hang lights as easily and safely as possible without marring your home’s trim or walls. For attaching lights along gutters or the roof, use plastic clips made for the job. These clips grip shingles or gutters and have a lower hook that holds a light strand or extension cord. 
  • Attach the lights to the trim. For attaching lights to window trim and similar vertical surfaces, use rope clips, adhesive or nail-on plastic string light clips; readily available online or at home improvement centers. Space them about 12 inches apart or as recommended. Do not use staples or nails to hang light strings they can pierce or wear away the protective insulation, creating a serious electrical hazard. 

How do you hang Christmas lights without a ladder?

The way that you would hang Christmas lights without a ladder is by taking a clip and putting your wire inside, then popping the clip in the pincher end of the pole. Raise it up to the edge of your roof or you can pop the clip in first and then pick up the wire. Then you would slide the clip under the shingles. Pull the release trigger and very gently remove them from the clip. Now, there is a little bit of a difference when it comes to hanging lights on your gutters. Looking at the instructions that come with the pole to see the best way to hang your lights is also a really good idea.

As local roofing contractors, we know that hundreds of roofing accidents occur from hanging Christmas lights and decorations each and every year. We hear all the horror stories! To avoid looking like the guy from Christmas with the Kranks where Tim Allen is stuck hanging from his rooftop, always have someone with you ready to assist. Never hang lights if there is visible snow or ice on the ground or roof, or during wet weather conditions— we do not want any slip and falls! Good home improvement stores carry accessories for personal ladder safety as well as accessories to prevent the ladder from damaging your home. When taking down the lights, you shouldn’t just pull on the string. While it saves you time, it may pull down your gutters and otherwise damage your asphalt shingled roof. Instead, take down your lights the same way you put them up; carefully, safely and one clip at a time. Be conscious about how you wrap and pack away your light strings. If they twist, they may become damaged or get kinks and look odd next year. Especially if you use clips that hook to the line instead of to the bulb.

Stay safe! Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year from your local roofing contractors at Infinite Roofing!

Filed Under: Gutters, Roof Shingles Tagged With: roofing contractors

How Do I Remove Snow From My Roof?

December 6, 2019 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

Experts remind you to rake snow off your roof to prevent leaks
Check out our exclusive interview with Giuliana Bruno at NEWS10 ABC,
which aired December 6th, 2019

Knowing that winter is officially here and it’s that time of year where snowstorms will be coming your way, Infinite Roofing can help you with some information on what to do during what can be a very stressful time. Any homeowners who have spent a winter full of snowstorms know how fast snow accumulates and builds up. Anyone who lives in a place where snowstorms happen frequently knows how worrying it can be when snow and ice accumulate on their rooftops. Here at Infinite Roofing, we have years of experience performing winter roof care and maintenance including snow and ice removal. The information provided below will be beneficial for both commercial property homeowners as well as regular homeowners. 

Rooftop snow buildup is something to be concerned about because the extra weight on the roof can cause it to collapse or leak. It can also contribute to ice dam formation which can also cause considerable damage. Many people may not realize just how much snow can weigh. It looks very pretty but it is very heavy. Therefore, providing this information may encourage you to monitor the amount of snow that piles up on your rooftop. 

Why do I need to perform rooftop snow removal?

Aside from the weight of the snow adding to any existing structural issues, one of the main reasons that anyone would want to keep their roof snow-free during the winter is to avoid ice dams forming on their roof.  Snow forms ice dams because hot air always rises up from inside your house and this causes the snow to melt on an upper, warmer part of the roof, the water then starts to run down toward the eaves. As this water runs downwards it cools and freezes, forming ice. When that ice accumulates it will start to back up under the roof shingles, melt again, and then start soaking the roof sheathing and leaking into the attic or other parts of your property. This, in turn, would cause some serious damage to your roof, gutters, paint, insulation, interior drywall, and other surfaces. 

If you’re able to prevent these ice dams, you’re much safer from serious leaks and damage to your property. The best way to do this is by minimizing the amount of snow on your rooftop. In other words, rooftop snow removal is a very important consideration, particularly in the harsh winters of Albany, Clifton Park and the Greater Capital Region.

When the snow begins to melt and form into ice it becomes even heavier which ends up putting pressure on the support structure of your home. One square-foot of snow at only one inch deep which would come to weigh over 1.25 pounds. In this region, it is not unusual to see that snow approach 12 inches deep or more up on your roof! In this case, you would then most definitely want to perform some rooftop snow removal measures. Maybe that doesn’t seem like a lot, but then multiply that weight by the actual size of your roof! That 12 inches of snow just became about thousands of pounds of stress and pressure building up on your rooftop. So, finding and implementing these rooftop snow removal tips will protect you and your property this winter.

When is rooftop snow removal necessary?

Many commercial roofing contractors have different opinions about how much ice and snow is too much to have on your roof. However, when you actually think about it, it all depends partly on the age of the roofing system, the style of the roof you have, the materials used, how well the roof has been maintained and additional environmental factors. If the snow buildup is excessive or you have any concerns about the integrity of your roof, snow removal should be one of your top priorities.

Develop a rooftop snow removal plan

When it comes to making a plan for rooftop snow removal, you will ultimately have to decide on the best course of action. Many visual signs may be present that indicate a safe rooftop snow load has been exceeded. One should assume that the roof is unsafe and subject to failure if any indicators are present. In this case, calling in a local, professional roofing Contractor such as Infinite Roofing would be your best bet.

When the rooftop has been evaluated, if there is a need to remove snow:

  • When you know that it is safe to access the roof following a storm, the first thing you should do is clear the rooftop drain inlets and outlets. Clear drains help clear up any water from melting snow.
  • Roof areas that have accumulated drifting snow may require action to remove the snow in these exposed areas. When deeper snow drifts begin to melt away it takes more time, thus increasing the likelihood of more snow or rainfall which would add to the rooftop load.

The majority of the time, roof snow raking helps clear snow and prevent the formation of ice dams. It does not prevent all ice dams entirely, but many make the mistake of not raking the snow off their roof and allowing a greater amount of ice dams to form. You’re far less likely to get an ice dam if you rake than if you don’t. When you rake, you’re going to want to reach as high up as you can. Believe it or not, shoveling or raking your own roof can actually be very dangerous! Consider hiring a professional roofing contractor, as they would be insured to be out on cold and icy roofs rather than taking the risk doing it yourself.

Rooftop snow removal on commercial roofing systems

Commercial roofs are a significant investment and this investment should be protected. Compared to any other roofs, commercial roofs can be quite fragile. Therefore when a commercial roof has too much weight on it, especially snow, it can be easily damaged due to a lot of foot traffic. 

When commercial roof owners or managers decide to remove snow on their own they can often end up damaging their own property. In general, people tend to think of rooftop snow removal as similar to removing snow from the sidewalk and driveway. Therefore, they end up shoveling all the snow right off and they don’t realize that when using a shovel the blade ends up damaging the roof, causing leaks into the property.

When it comes to commercial roofing, when removing snow from the rooftop you have to leave a thin layer of snow. When removing all the snow from the roof you could end up damaging the roof membrane. Therefore, it really is best to contact a local roofing expert such as Infinite Roofing as this could save you a lot of money in the long run. If you were to hire a regular old handyman or a company that wouldn’t really know how to deal with a commercial roof, be careful that they do not make this mistake. 

The benefit of hiring a local roofing contractor for your snow removal

Hiring an experienced, commercial roofing contractor to clear snow from your rooftop, they will take many more precautions than any other person you would hire. 

  • An expert would do cleaning inspection.
  • All workers would be trained on how to clean the roof properly and safely.
  • They would use specialized tools that are designed to clear snow efficiently without causing damage.
  • An expert would oversee the job, guaranteeing the safety of the workers and avoiding any problems.
  • They would also be fully insured, in the event any problems do arise.

Hiring a professional commercial roofing contractor that has extensive experience in commercial roofing throughout the region is very beneficial for you and your peace of mind. They would be fully trained and capable of working with commercial roofing in such snowy and icy conditions. In other words, you’re avoiding any chances of you getting hurt or any other person you might hire that does not have the necessary skills and qualifications to do the job. If a roofer from a proper commercial roofing company were to actually get hurt, they will have insurance, avoiding any liability on your part.

Importance of commercial rooftop snow removal 

As a local commercial roof owner, knowing that winter is just around the corner along with a lot of snowfall on your property, there are many things to consider. One of them being that when the snow starts to accumulate on top of your building, it poses a great risk for the roof to be damaged. Therefore, it is so important for commercial property owners to be aware of the dangers that the rooftop snow can cause. We understand that all roofs are different and that some roofs have a tolerance to handle a greater volume of snow, while many others do not. However, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

In order to prevent any structural damage, you will want to be aware of the amount of snow accumulating on your roof and the load capacity of your roof. If you have a flat roof, snow will most likely accumulate much more. Therefore, you’re going to want to make sure that your roof is not prone to excessive snow accumulation. With these types of roofs, you’re going to want to avoid any snow level more than 18 inches on your roof. You’re going to want to monitor how much snow is on the rooftop so that you can avoid any possible collapse or damage to your commercial property and also ensure that any issues do not prevent the normal day-to-day running of your business/life.

When there is a snowstorm happening or its just snowing, snow starts to build up and on your roof. Sleet, rain, and ice can make matters worse. All this ends up causing pressure to build up on the roof and increases the odds of water running down on the roof when the heat begins to melt the snow. Therefore causing a clog on your gutter when the water refreezes. 

When you take all this into consideration, hiring a commercial roofing contractor to clear snow from your rooftop can save you a great deal of hassle. You may do the job yourself, but to avoid any injuries and any complications that can cause damage to your roof or property, your best bet is to hire a professional.

Filed Under: Flat roof, Roofing, Rooftop Snow Removal Tagged With: roofing companies, roofing contractors, rooftop, snow removal

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