Of The End Of Your Roof (NAPSA)—Home- owners can save themselves a lot of heartache and money down the road by making sure a few simple steps are taken during roof installation to prevent ice dams. Stopping ice dams before they start is key to avoiding expensive damage. Ice dams F . F ————E———— >, are | nasty build-ups of ice on the gutters. However, as the ice a ‘I neateo AIR HEATED — ee I TW HN @ dams get larger, they start going up Where there is water and fluctuating temperathe roof and under tures, ice dams are common. the shingles. When attic, reducing the possibility of the ice melts, the ice under the snow melting and re-freezing at shingles melts into the house. the base of yourroof. What can you do to prevent ice Equally important to the life of dams from occurring when inyour roof, is the right choice of stalling a new roof? First, make sure yourroof is prop- shingles. Experts recommend erly ventilated. A good ventilation asphalt shingles that are thick system keeps yourroof cool enough and offer many layers of protec(below 30 degrees) in the winter to tion for your roof. Also, an underprevent the snow melt that leads to layment called WinterGuard by the ice dam problem. A ridge vent CertainTeed is added protection equipped with an externalbaffle against leaks caused by ice dams along the entire length of the roof or winddriven rain. It is installed is a highly effective option for most at the eaves and should ice dams every home. Thesoffit allows cool or wind driven rain occur on your air in to help coolthe attic. The ridge roof, water will not be able to penvent then draws the warm air out etrate this membrane, even where the attic. The air in the attic does- it is nailed into the roof deck, because it seals around thenail. n’t get diluted. All of these pieces...insulation, Insulation is another piece of WinterGuard, shingles, ridgethe puzzle to effectively keep your attic cool and when combined with vent...are part of an overall systhe ridge vent, helps keep attic tem—pieces working together to temperatures below 30 degrees. help prevent expensive damageto An attic insulated to today’s your home. If you are unsure or energy standards with Certain- suspect a problem, call a profesTeed fiber glass insulation, for sional to check thingsout. For more information, visit example, minimizes heat escape through the ceiling and into the www.certainteed.com.
