Ice dams can cause significant damage to your home. They are created for the most part by heat escaping upwards from your home into your attic.

For ice dams to form there must be snow on the roof and at the same time higher sections of the roofs outside surface must be above 32 degrees◦Fahrenheit. The rising heat in the attic melts the snow off the roof.  The melted water flows down the roof and under the snow, than freezes as it reaches your unheated eaves and overhangs.

Continuously cold temperatures are a main factor in this event. Heavy snow followed by several days of 40 degree◦temperatures probably won’t result in an ice dam. The air temperature must remain cold enough for water to freeze. When temperatures fall below 20◦degrees, conditions are especially favorable. If you see icicles, that is an indication of this melting-refreezing action.  As an ice dam is created, the water builds up behind it.  If the dam builds high enough, water will find its way inside and either stain the drywall or show up as a leak.

Three easy steps to help eliminate ice damming from occurring:

1. Equalize temperature over the entire roof area. This is done by installing proper intake and exhaust ventilation. Cold outside air is drawn into the soffit vents, then washed over the underside of the roof decking to the ridge vent.
2. Attic insulation is probably the most important factor in this equation. It minimizes heat loss from your homes living quarters. Insulation also diminishes the energy impact of having cold air flowing through the attic.
3. Adding waterproofing shingle underlayment will help prevent the pooled water at the dam from entering your home. Always insist on this type of product when installing a new roof on your home.

If you have any questions or want an evaluation of your home to prevent future ice damming problems, contact us at DryHome Roofing & Siding, Inc.

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VELUX offers a complete system of complimentary products and accessories for any solution, from installation right down to the finishing touches. VELUX skylights and sun tunnels come with an industry first 10-year installation warranty and “No Leak Promise”!

Consider an electric venting skylight, which opens to produce a “passive air conditioner.” Warm air is drawn up through the venting skylight, providing a cooling effect and fresh air throughout the house.

Health Benefits of Natural Sunlight

The effect that natural light has on you physically, emotionally and psychologically is well documented. The link between sunlight, vitamin D production and overall health is becoming increasingly well-known, and studies are showing that vitamin D is an integral part in:

• Absorbing calcium for bones
• Supporting immune systems
• Reducing common cancers, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, types 1 and 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and infections.

Skylights also help improve indoor air quality by removing excess heat, moisture, odors, and other VOC indoor pollutants.

Economic Benefits of Skylights & Sun Tunnels

VELUX, the world leader in skylights and roof windows, puts to excellent use our most abundant natural resource – light from above. Installing skylights and sun tunnels in your home has some incredible economical advantages you may not be aware of. Using more natural light greatly increases the energy-efficiency of your house and reduces your energy bills too!

VELUX skylights and sun tunnels meet even the strictest of energy requirement, and you may receive a tax credit of 30% on the price of the product, up to $1500!

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Having a roof over their heads is all some families yearn for during the holidays.  Good Shepherd Alliance in Loudoun County provides that and so much more for homeless families struggling to stabilize their lives.  This year, the families residing in Good Shepherd’s Hebron Women and Families shelter will celebrate the holidays under a new roof.  That’s because Good Shepherd is the beneficiary of DryHome Roofing and Siding’s annual Free Roof for the Holidays program.

As the recession takes its toll on families, Sterling-based DryHome continued its Free Roof for the Holidays program.  For the seventh year, DryHome accepted nominations from customers and the community to identify a Northern Virginia individual, family or nonprofit in need. Receiving a record number of nominations, DryHome selected Good Shepherd Alliance, a nonprofit that serves Loudoun County’s homeless, as the recipient based on the severity of its needs and the poor condition of its roof.

“We feel fortunate to be able to continue our tradition of giving this holiday season and want to thank all who took the time to nominate someone in need.  As a reflection of these difficult times, we received many worthy and heartfelt nominations. By choosing Good Shepherd, we knew our work would touch many families’ lives for many years to come,” said Steve Gotschi, DryHome’s owner.

Good Shepherd Alliance’s executive director, Vickie Koth, nominated the nonprofit, describing the very leaky roof of its women and children’s shelter, the important services that Good Shepherd provides to families in need, as well as the fiscal realities facing so many nonprofits today.

“Every day, Good Shepherd provides emergency shelter and services to men, women, and families throughout our community who have nowhere to sleep,” explained Koth. “Maintaining our facilities is a great expense, so we are so thankful that DryHome selected us to receive a free roof for our shelter. This wonderful gift ensures that our funding will help more families live under a roof.”

The Good Shepherd Alliance has been providing emergency housing and near term support for Loudoun County’s homeless since 1983. While the basic needs for emergency food, clothing and shelter are addressed, Good Shepherd also assists women and families in resolving their homeless situation, stabilizing their living situation, and empowering them to become self-sufficient.

Its emergency homeless program offers short-term shelter to families, women and children who are temporarily homeless and in need of assistance and networking with local community services. On a typical day, Good Shepherd houses approximately 32 people in safe, comfortable homes. One of these homes, the Hebron Shelter for Women and Children, is receiving the new roof.  Hebron serves up to 20 women and children a day. Residents participate in Good Shepherd’s Six Steps to Self-Sufficiency program, an intensive case management program that helps families in crisis get back to self-sufficiency. 

Good Shepherd is a repeat beneficiary, having received a free roof several years ago for another one of its shelters.   Last year’s Free Roof for the Holidays program also benefitted homeless families when Reston Interfaith, another outstanding local nonprofit, received a free roof for one of its townhomes used for transitional housing. 

Other winners over the years have included: Falls Church Cub Scout House; Gabriel Homes, a nonprofit that serves adults with developmental disabilities; Mrs. Caylor, a Leesburg resident and volunteer; and Bernie Cline, an elderly Alexandria resident in desperate need of a roof replacement.

“This is always a humbling experience for our team.  We are honored to be able to help those less fortunate enjoy the holidays with a safe roof over their heads,” added Gotschi.  “We hope that 2010 brings health, happiness, and prosperity to everyone in our community.”

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WE NEED YOUR HELP

It is that time of year again when we ask our friends, customers and peers for nominations for our annual “FREE ROOF FOR THE HOLIDAYS”. We created this program to give back to the community and will offer a free roof to a needy non-profit organization or individual.

In addition to this news letter, we send out thousands of postcards to past customers and other businesses, asking if they are aware of a needy individual or organization.

In the past: Our first roof, in 2003, went to the Falls Church Cub Scout house located in the City of Falls Church.  In 2004 we installed a new roof for The Good Shepherd Alliance.  They own and run a transitional home and shelter for women and children at Hebron, which can be found right outside the town of Lucketts.  In 2005 the free roof was awarded to Gabriel Homes of Reston.  They are a private non-profit organization that provides care to adults with developmental disabilities and assists them with everyday life activities.  In 2006, Mrs. Caylor of Leesburg received the free roof for the year, for being a great patron in the community and donating her time to care for local children at the Community Church nursery.  Mr. Bernie Cline, an 86 year old resident of Alexandria was 2007’s roof recipient.  Bernie was referred by Roger Healy, the Project Coordinator of RPJ Housing.  RPJ Housing is an affiliate for Rebuilding Together; formerly know as Christmas in April.  Last year Reston Interfaith received our 6th free roof.  They are a nonprofit organization with 38 years of experience serving Reston, Herndon and northwestern Fairfax County.  They promote self-sufficiency through support and advocacy for those in need of food, shelter, affordable housing, quality childcare, and other services.

We love our community and appreciate the opportunity to give back.  Nominations will be accepted beginning November 1st.  Please fax, call or email us at DryHome Roofing to nominate that special person or organization.  Each entry will be carefully evaluated and the most deserving will be awarded with a free roof during December.  Again, this is where we need your help.  Thank you in advance for your time.

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Save BIG on purchase, on monthly utility bills….
Plus save the planet!

Larger Tax Credit:
For qualified improvement, homeowners may be able to claim tax credits equal to 30% of installed costs

Roofing – CertainTeed: Landmark Solaris Shingles (up to $1,500.00)
Windows – CertainTeed: BrynMawr II and Simonton: 5500 windows (up to $1,500.00)
Insulation - Owens Corning: Blown-In PINK FIBERGLAS (up to $1,500.00)
Solar Water Heating – Velux: Solar Water Heating System (30% no limit)
Entry Door and Patio - Provia (up to $1,500.00)

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Find out with a free evaluation!

All it takes is a quick peek to find out. If your attic floor is insulated but the wood beams (joists) are still visible, you probably don’t have enough. But even if you can’t see your beams, that’s still no guarantee that you have enough insulation. The best thing to do is measure.

For maximum energy efficiency, we recommend an insulation value of R-60 for attic floors – about 18 inches of insulation. Do you have enough?  Call us for a free evaluation on your attic’s R-value.  We install Owens Corning Expanding Blown-in PINK FIBERGLAS Insulation.  It works on the principle of trapped air pockets.  Tiny air pockets trapped in the insulation resist the passage of heat flow.  The thicker the insulation, the more air pockets and the greater the insulating power.  This equates BIG gains in energy savings all year round!

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