Winter weather can be severe and frightening at times. If you have a manufactured home, you’ll want to take a few steps to protect your roof in advance. Here are five ways to help prevent roof damage from heavy snow.
1. Use a roof rake. Find these tools at your local hardware store, and use them regularly to drag snow off the roof while keeping your feet on the ground, eliminating risk of injury. Removing the snow lessens weight on the roof, which reduces the likelihood of leaks and roof damage.
2. Insulate your attic floor. While it may seem like a good idea to let the snow melt so that it slides off, when the melted snow re-freezes, it may create ice dams, which cause damage and leaks. To help prevent this, insulate the attic floor so heat doesn’t escape from your living area. As a bonus, this will also lower heating costs.
3. Install an ice dam protection sheet. This is especially important if your manufactured home has a south-facing roof, which receives the most direct sunlight throughout the day. A protection sheet is a rubber membrane that sticks to the wood under your shingles to protect your roof from water intrusion due to ice dams.
4. Keep your attic ventilated to outside air. In your attic, moisture is the enemy, as it weakens roof rafters, wall components, and even insulation. Having moisture and condensation in the attic of your manufactured home can even lead to ice dams. A well-ventilated attic will keep the dry air moving in, removing this moisture.
5. Be proactive. Insulate before the heaviest snow. Monitor snowfall and rake it before it builds too high on your roof. Don’t let more than six inches build up, as the accumulated weight of so much snow can add unnecessary strain to your roof.
By carefully watching for snow and ice buildup, and by taking a few proactive steps to prevent ice dams, you can protect your manufactured home during the severe weather of this winter season.