Get matched with top roof ice and snow removal pros in Moonachie, NJ

If a big freeze catches you by surprise and you don’t have any deicer to hand, you can reduce the chance of taking a tumble by laying gritty, anti-slip materials. Some natural, readily-available options that don’t melt ice but offer traction underfoot include sand, wood shavings, kitty litter, and fireplace ash.

Heavy amounts of snow could be a problem. In many climates, lots of snow on your rooftop can lead to freeze-thaw cycle that create ice dams, which can damage rooftops. But if you’re using shingle clips, this snow poses an additional problem: As it melts and freezes, it can easily dislodge clips you’ve placed on your roof.

You can clean snow off your roof after a fresh snowfall while it’s still lightweight, but brushing off snow can also dislodge your clips. If you get a lot of snow, then roof clips become less viable.

Knocking down icicles won’t help prevent ice dams, as the dams form on the bottoms of your roof slopes and not on the gutters themselves. However, removing icicles can reduce the risk of injury if they form over heavily trafficked areas, and it can help prevent permanent damage to your gutters. Just be sure to wear safety equipment and always stay on the ground while knocking them down.

Ice dam removal is costly, but it’s absolutely worth it. If you leave an ice dam as is and don’t take care of it, you’re looking at potentially dangerous situations and high-cost repairs—like roof collapse, leaks, mold problems, gutter damage, and more. Removing ice dams is essential to keeping your home and your family safe in the snowy season.