How to Keep your Deck Protected against the Winter

Wood is known to expand and contract in different temperatures and having snow and cold directly on the tiles has many homeowners worried. As a rule, however, a good deck tile should be able to withstand it. Here are a few things that you should consider about cold conditions and wooden deck tiles.

• Either put patio furniture inside or cover them with a tarp
• Flowerpots can crack with ice and cold temperature so bring them in

· Clear leaves and other organic material, as it could cause mold, rot, staining or mildew if it is left there all winter. DO NOT USE A METAL SHOVEL

• It’s not a bad idea to clean snow off your deck, snow can be very heavy!
• Only use sodium chloride (i.e. Halite) types of salt on a wood deck or porch that has been water-sealed or stained. Calcium chloride salts will reduce the effectiveness of a water-repellent coating.

Ice Dams

An ice dam is a build up of ice at the edge of the roof. It is called a dam, because the build up is large enough to dam up some water behind it. Sometimes even the best roof designs can get them. This winter it seems every roof has had one. But generally it is caused by a warm attic and cold eaves. That allows the snow to melt up on the roof over the attic, and then refreeze when the water reaches the eaves. The eaves are cold since they are not over the house, but are hanging out there in the cold. If the ice doesn't fall off the roof, and hangs on, then the water melting above, will build up behind the ice. Damage that can be done is water that is building up behind the dam can get high enough to get under the shingles and leak into the attic. It often shows up as water leaking from the window trim or wet spots in the ceiling close the walls. If it happens once it can stain your woodwork, and make those ugly water marks on your drywall. If it happens often it will rot the roof decking, and other framing members.
 

Adding insulation to your attic floor will help, not only will it cut down on ice dams but also cut back on your heating bill. Ventilation is important for many reasons. Key among them is the elimination of moisture that finds its way up to the attic. Moisture that makes its way to your attic will condense in the cold air. It will condense on your plywood roof decking and cause it to rot and it will pass up through the shingles causing them to fail years before they should.

Either you have a lot of insulation and ventilation and you still have ice dams, or, you have cathedral ceilings or a roof attic design that makes adding those impossible. In that case you can have an ice belt installed. An Ice Belt is Metal flashing installed all the way along the eaves and extends to the area of the roof above the attic. It covers the area where the ice will form. It serves two purposes, first it provides a surface which permits the snow and ice to just slide off preventing most dams. Second it provides a surface that water won't flow up under as it as it does with shingles.

As always give Fauser Home Improvement a call at 309*792-3122 or visit us anytime at www.FauserHI.com!

Window Condensation

Window condensation plagues many homeowners each winter. The source of condensation is invisible water vapor that is a component of the air inside your home. Condensation is what happens when water changes from a gaseous state to a liquid state. Water vapor turns into liquid water when it touches a cool or cold surface. Even new windows suffer from condensation. You can control condensation by monitoring the amount of water vapor you have in your home. To minimize condensation you can use a humidifier, bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans (that discard air outdoors not into attic space), or use a fan to blow air onto the window condensation.

How Much Snow is Too Much for Your Roof

After the recent winter storm we received a lot of snow. Do you know how much a house roof can take? Is it time to start shoveling?

Your house was designed for a certain snow load which will depend on the area you live in. i.e. houses in areas expecting more snow will have stronger roofs... so we can't give you an answer that 3' is ok ... or too much.

If you are concerned, I like idea of a long snow shovel. Go to local hardware store and purchase a snow rake. They have a 20’ handle and you can simply pull the snow down! Fauser Home Improvement knows far too many people who have fallen off their roofs and seriously hurt themselves.

Don't forget to visit us at http://www.fauserhi.com/ or give us a call and let us know when to stop by and give you a FREE ESTIMATE on a home improvement project you have in mind 309/792-3122.