While Flagstaff is known for having beautiful winters, most also know that if snow and ice are not taken care of properly around the home, they can cause quite the headache. Most of the problems caused by snow, though, can be taken care of easily or prevented if one is prepared with a snowblower, properly installed de-icing cables, and a stash of ice melt.
Living in Flagstaff, we all know that there will be snow to shovel come wintertime. If you’re getting tired of doing it the old fashioned way, you may want to consider purchasing a snow thrower. There are a few considerations you need to take into account before simply going out and buying one, such as the kind of area you’re going to need to clear, and the benefits and uses of the two different kinds of snow throwers. If you have a small pathway or area with a low amount of snow, a single-stroke model would be much easier for your needs. This simply scoops up snow and propels it out of a hand-controlled chute to either side. This model is also much lighter than its counterpart, but cannot be used on any kind of surface with loose gravel or other debris. If you have a much larger area to cover, with more snow and possibly even ice to break up, you may want to look into purchasing a two-stroke snow thrower. This kind of snow thrower breaks up snow and ice with a spinning auger before blowing it out the chute. The two-stroke is also much heavier than the single stage model and can be quite a bit noisier as well. Before purchasing any snow thrower, all of these things should be taken into consideration.
While ice melt is not necessarily right for your driveway considering the damage it can likely cause to your concrete, ice melts and de-icers are a great product to help clear sidewalks. There are many of these products on the market, varying in price and effectiveness, but they all have some of the same things in common. When using an ice melt, the snow on top of the ice must be completely cleared off; the ice melt will not melt everything. When these products are overused, they have the potential to corrode metal and even do damage to nearby vegetation. If damage does occur, washing the area with water could help prevent it from progressing any further. Like any chemical compound, you must also wear gloves when applying it to your sidewalk because it can cause irritation to your hands. Above all else, reading instructions and applying ice melts carefully is all you need to do in order to rid your sidewalk of dangerous ice.
Another concern after a large storm is the build up of snow and ice that can occur on your roof and gutters. This kind can cause ice dams, which is when the melting of snow on the roof flows down the roof to the edge, where it freezes and builds up. This generally causes water to leak under the shingles; it can stain your woodwork, make watermarks on the drywall, and if it happens too often, can even rot the roof decking. This can be prevented with properly installed heating cables onto your roof edge. You can do this yourself, or even have it professionally done. It may seem pricey or time consuming, but it is definitely worth it to save your house from any water damage.
Flagstaff winters can be brutal if you are not prepared for them. But with the proper tools and a little bit of knowledge about winter preparation and snow removal, there is nothing stopping you from having a stress-free holiday season! FBN
Mike Brackin proudly announced HomCo’s name change earlier this year. Now HomCo Lumber & Hardware, Mike Brackin continues to carry on a legacy of expert knowledge, outstanding customer service and ever improving specialized services and departments. HomCo Lumber & Hardware is Northern Arizona’s leading authority in the home improvement industry. Located at 1763 E. Butler Ave., in Flagstaff. For more information, call 928-779.6111, visit HomCo’s website at www.MyHomCo.com.