Ready, set? Shovel!
Posted by Jo Erickson on Thu, Sep 22, 2011 @ 01:25 PM
While we are still basking in our long, warm days, the local squirrels begin their annual preparation for the cold days ahead. They know what it takes to get through our tough New England winters. Preparation; Squirrels need nuts safely tucked away to sustain themselves until spring. People need tools, contracts and people they can count on.
When it comes to the challenges of winter, early preparation is a winning strategy. Autumn is the right time to have service people in to attend to your heating and chimney needs and to get your snow removal plans in place.
2011 brought the New Year and new headaches for commercial and residential property owners in a wide swath of Massachusetts. There were over 100 partial or full roof collapses due to the excessive build up of snow from January to early February. We often enjoy a melting reprieve between snowfalls, but as last year demonstrated, you can’t count on the assistance of nature. Roof snow was a problem, and we also ran out of space needed for shoveled piles along walkways and driveways. Remember the mountains of dirty snow piles in larger parking lots well into summer?
What can you do? Know what you should do and know the requirements of your municipality. When you hire professionals, they should be aware of local requirements. Running a home business? If you are inviting people onto your property you need to provide safe passage for them and their vehicles.
Most municipalities have on-street parking bans from November to April, or during snow emergencies.
Do you have off street parking for your car arranged?
Here is a short listing of local town/city snow FAQs and requirements:
Carry down the precipitation
Before the snow flies, find and repair failed building envelope components. By November, make sure gutters and downspouts are clear of debris. Jammed gutters invite ice formation, which can impact the edging membrane of the roof. Inspect the joints of your house: roof to chimney, look for loose flashing and roof trim pieces. Make sure your doors properly close and that weather-stripping is intact.
Remove access impediments
Make sure the path for the oil delivery person is clear of overgrowth and shovel a path for their use. Store seasonal objects that could become trip hazards when buried in snow. Never pile firewood against the house, it invites bugs and frozen fiascos for your siding. Have a furnace and bulkhead? Removing snow is helpful, should you need emergency access for repairs.
Roof snow load
Cities and towns are considering revising their load bearing capacity requirements. They are regionally determined, check your local Building Codes. Northern and Western Massachusetts counties have higher requirements. The capacity of your roof is based on its structural condition, which is likely hidden from view.
Snow builds up on roofs through successive snowfalls. Melting and compression creates a denser layer of icy snow in the bottom layers. Once the ice forms it is hard to remove and removal can damage your roof. When it snows, you should have a plan in place to remove excess snow.
Creak and run or shovel and get it done? A warning sound of creaking saved lives last year when roof collapses were imminent. Walls may crack, beams may groan prior to collapse so take note of strange sounds and fresh cracks. Do not go on your snowy roof and start shoveling, which is dangerous to humans and risky for the roof, make plans today to avert snowy disasters.
Ice and snow walkway buildup
When you’re already cold and wet, it can be challenging to remember to scrape surfaces clean. Failure to do so often results in the stiff crust of an inch or so, which becomes an icy pedestrian hazard. Calcium chloride is best to eat holes through the ice, which speeds melting and aids in chopping removal. Remember that you can be liable for ignoring fall hazards that result in injury. Homeowners insurance may cover you but it pays to prevent injury.
If all this effort sounds familiar and disagreeable, there is an alternative, which is to hire the services of a professional.
Give us a call today and find out more about being prepared!