Did you know that, on average, Eagle County gets close to 400 inches of snow each year? While this adds to the picturesque mountain backdrop, snow and ice can actually be quite damaging to your roof. The good news is that there are steps you can take to mitigate damage, and an exceptional product to use is heat tape.
Are you familiar with heat tape? If not, you might be surprised to learn that it really is not a “tape” in the traditional sense of the word. It is better described as an electrical wire or heated cable that is encased in vinyl . It is plugged in to help regulate the temperature of your roofline, and can also be used to insulate plastic or metal pipes.
When we are building custom homes at Precision Construction West, we always employ the use of heat tape on our projects. Many roofs are not properly insulated, and as snow melts and refreezes, snow build-up on your roof can lead to damming problems. Ice dams have a way of accumulating on roof lines in mountain communities, which can be dangerous to both the home and its owners.
But heat tape is a proven and effective way to eliminate damming and icicles that can pose a major threat as they dangle above sidewalks, decks and other outdoor spaces. Additionally, ice dams can cause the shingles on your roof to lift, which can lead to a major moisture problem down the line. Many mountain homeowners find out the hard way that their roofing underlayment is moist or even wet. And trying to rectify a moisture problem in a roof or attic can be expensive and time-consuming.
And just when you thought heat tape couldn’t provide any more benefit to your home, there’s more. We understand that not everyone buying a home (or building a new home) in the area is familiar with the safety concerns that icicles can pose to us a human beings.
Often, people come in from warm weather locales and see these frozen spectacles as cool objects. While icicles can definitely be interesting to look at, they can also be extremely dangerous. At the end of the day, heat tape can assist in ensuring that when your children are outside enjoying the epic snow conditions, they are also safe.
If you are interested in building a custom home in the Vail Valley area or have questions about heat tape or other building materials, please contact Precision Construction West (PCW). We are a full-service construction company with experience in the commercial and residential sectors. We can help you build your dream home!