Winter

Condensation Build Up: Is it a roofing or humidity Issue?

Each year, Showalter Roofing receives numerous calls for condensation problems. Many times after we visit the home and inspect the attic, we find it to be a humidity issue.

When temperatures plummet as typical Chicago weather proves each year, homeowners begin to notice moisture in the attic. Most times it’s due to the humidifiers directly installed on furnaces. If the humidity level on the inside…is above the level on the outside, condensation builds in our attics.

Take a trip up to your attic early in the morning. If you see a layer of frost on the underside of the plywood, it’s most likely condensation.  As the outside temperature rises this frost will melt and water spots may occur on your ceiling.

If you notice moisture confined to a specific area of the roof decking, that’s most likely going to be a roofing problem. Call Showalter Roofing at  630.499.7700  to conduct a complete evaluation to verify a roofing issue.

Here are the Top 3 Ways Homeowners Can Combat Condensation Issues:

1. Turn the humidifier down on your furnace especially when it’s really cold outside. It doesn’t seem logical, however the furnace is turning on more frequently causing an increase of humidity in the air. To see a chart for setting your humidistat go to: http://www.showalterroofing.com/Condensation.php
2. Check your clothes dryer.  Your dryer may not be hooked up properly. If warm moist air is getting into your home from the clothes dryer, it will end up in the attic.
3. Check if your bathroom fan is connected properly. If there is a problem, the warm moist air will quickly reach the attic.

 

How to Remove an Ice Damming Problem

Ice Damming is mostly due to heat loss and poor ventilation.

Showalter Roofing has received many calls  on ice damming. Especially this winter with the numerous below zero days along with the melting and freezing process, the problem has been worst than ever.

Here’s what happens: Heat loss that escapes into the attic, due to poor insulation or ventilation, causes the snow on the roof to melt. The melted snow now flows down the roof to the bottom edge of the roof where it refreezes because there is no heat in the overhangs of your home. At first it causes icicles which look nice until they become dangerously large and heavy. The freeze/thaw cycle also causes a build-up of ice along the bottom edge that eventually gets so thick that water can no longer flow off the roof and it backs up under the shingles causing leaks along the outside edge of your home.

Our teams at Showalter Roofing can help you know what to do in the event ice damming happens on your roof. Take a look at our dedicated page on ice damming. It’s what every home owner needs to know. As always, let me know if the article helped you out.

Choosing the Right Roofing Company for Your Roof

When it comes to working on major projects around the house, the roofing system can be one of those projects that can cause many headaches if you don’t have the right team working on the project.  It is highly recommended to make sure that the company or team of workers that are offering their services to perform work on major construction projects around your home is bonded, licensed, and insured.  Often times, hiring someone that is not bonded or insured will be substantially cheaper and all the responsibility if something bad happens falls into the homeowners lap.  Always remember that even though the price may be very appealing, you get what you pay for.  Saving a few dollars up front ends up costing more in the long run.  Here is a short story of a recent colleague that experienced the hardship of what it means to be bonded and insured.

Owners of a recently purchased bed and breakfast outside the Milwaukee area, experienced heavy rainfall this past autumn and were exasperated to the amount of rain that found its way into the home.  Reflecting back on the negotiations of the sale of the house, the previous owners were supposed to have fulfiller their obligations by installing a new roof to the establishment.  The problem was that the previous owners contracted a roofing company that was uninsured and un-bonded.  The party responsible for the poorly installed roof is now on the previous owner and not on the roofing company that did the work.  This makes more headaches and problems for the new owners to be able to resolve the situation in order to continue to make money as a bed and breakfast establishment.

It is very important that anyone you work with is licensed, bonded, and insured.  Once you know that they are by researching and confirming that they are being truthful.  It’s always a good idea to ask for referrals from a trusted neighbor, friend or co-worker. However, be sure they’re not a family friend, a guy that does side jobs or an unemployed worker trying to make ends meet.

Showalter Roofing Services is a fully bonded and fully insured roofing company.  We are committed to exceeding your expectations with the work we do and it shows before, during and after a project is complete.  Our customers appreciate the work we deliver and reference us to their family and friends. We appreciate their kind words and continued business. Showalter Roofing wants you to refer us as well.

Let’s begin a long-lasting relationship.