Ice-Damaged Roofs: How To Protect Your House This Winter

OAK FOREST, IL — Now that the spate of arctic cold and ice storms is over (so far), folks in the south suburbs are cleaning up big messes -- whether burst pipes or leaking roofs -- that the brutal weather left behind. Homeowners have been scratching their heads about how to chip massive icicles from gutters and protect rooftops from ice chunks sliding off nearby trees.

"Anyone else having huge chunks of ice falling on their roof from trees?" one man asked on an Oak Forest community group page. The answer: yes.

According to the National Weather Service, total ice accumulation as of Feb. 12 was .44 inches at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, .34 inches at Chicago Rockford International Airport and .45 inches at Midway International airport.

That's a lot of ice.

There are steps homeowners can take to prevent danger and damage, area contractors say, except for ice falling from trees. Then you're at nature's mercy.

To be sure, snow-covered rooftops fringed by ice can look beautiful and cozy. But left too long, and homeowners risk leaking roofs -- which can be costly in the end.

Snow removal is a little easier. Major home improvement stores carry tools such as snow rakes so people can pull it off the top of the house, said Kevin Bumstead, owner of Stan’s Roofing and Siding in Orland Park.

The tricky part, he said, is ice. It's dangerous work and should be left to a professional because people can get hurt or tear off their gutters.

But if homeowners decide to do it themselves, they need to buddy up. One person should climb the ladder and the other person should hold it. Then the brave soul will need to use a hammer, pry bar or screw driver to extract the ice from the gutter.

Whether a homeowner decides to leave the ice or remove it depends on the weather.

So far, we've been lucky. "I won't preach doom and gloom this year because it's been a decent winter so far," he said. Warming air temperatures, and a forecast calling for the 60s later this week means the ice should melt.

But if it stays cold enough long enough, then ice could creep under shingles and leak into the house when they melt.

As for ice falling from trees...there are no tools to help anyone so far.

"I just came from a house in Evergreen Park where the ice broke off a tree and tore down the electrical service completely off the house," Bumstead said.

"It was really bad."

Photo via Getty Images.