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Snow Patterns on the Roof

| Posted in General Discussion on February 16, 2001 07:13am

*
It snowed here today on Long Island. I got out of work early today, actually while it was still daylight. As I drove thru my neighborhood I looked at the roofs of houses, both old and the brand new MEGA-BUCK$ homes.

Some roofs had melted areas telegraphing that the house has airleaks and/or not enough insulation. Many many of the MEGA-BUCK$ brand new homes had melted roofs even on the north side of their roofs. And the sun was not out at all to melt them.

When I pulled up to my own home what I saw made me feel both good and bad. The 1,000 sqft area I have been renovating along with airsealing and new cellulose in walls and attic had no melting of the snow at all, not even partial. In stark contrast was the rest of the roof sections with varying degrees of mostly to total snow melt!

Looking at the new area brought a sense of satisfaction for all the sweat and hard work. No wasted heat! Then it really hit me that there must be a LOT of dollar$ leaking out thru the rest of my attic. And how much $$ I have wasted in years past.

So this is my sworn testimony with evidence that air sealing and cellulose insulation really pay$!

Enough of this web browsing! I’ve got work to do finishing the rest of the house!

Happy Holidays!
-Phil

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Replies

  1. Jerry | Dec 25, 2000 06:27am | #1

    *
    Phil,

    Glad to see your efforts have paid off!

    Happy Holidays to You Too,
    Jerry

    1. ken_ballard | Dec 25, 2000 04:44pm | #2

      *Great for those people who have snow and understand what the melted places mean. I have always wondered why cities or some of the public utilities didn't have infared camers they would rent to individual or why insulation companies didn't utilize infrared cameras to increase their business. If everyone made it a point to educate someone else, this country could save a bunch of energy $$$$$$'s. JUST A THOUGH ON CHRISTMAS MORNING

      1. Rob_Susz_ | Feb 16, 2001 07:13am | #3

        *Ken, the reason they don't lend them is because no one cares about nergy inefficiency. That is until this year, now some people do.These multihundred thousand dollar homes are all built by people that don't have to live in them. After the first gas bill the owners call the builder to ask why their bill was $600 and why they have ice damming and the builder will tell them these are all "normal." And send them away somewhat happy with that explanation. Unti they meet someone like me that is...People don't care about inefficiency until you put it in perspective for them. I just insulated my neighbors house, 2200 sf colonial, 2900 sf surface area, all 2x6 walls. House was nearly entirely uninsulated. The previous owners lived there 15 years and never did a thing except pay $54,000 dollars to heat the place!! That's a new car every 5 years! This due largely to steam heating system at 40% effieicent or so.The structure will now require only 56,000 btu of heat.-Rob-Rob

  2. PatchoguePhil | Feb 16, 2001 07:13am | #4

    *
    It snowed here today on Long Island. I got out of work early today, actually while it was still daylight. As I drove thru my neighborhood I looked at the roofs of houses, both old and the brand new MEGA-BUCK$ homes.

    Some roofs had melted areas telegraphing that the house has airleaks and/or not enough insulation. Many many of the MEGA-BUCK$ brand new homes had melted roofs even on the north side of their roofs. And the sun was not out at all to melt them.

    When I pulled up to my own home what I saw made me feel both good and bad. The 1,000 sqft area I have been renovating along with airsealing and new cellulose in walls and attic had no melting of the snow at all, not even partial. In stark contrast was the rest of the roof sections with varying degrees of mostly to total snow melt!

    Looking at the new area brought a sense of satisfaction for all the sweat and hard work. No wasted heat! Then it really hit me that there must be a LOT of dollar$ leaking out thru the rest of my attic. And how much $$ I have wasted in years past.

    So this is my sworn testimony with evidence that air sealing and cellulose insulation really pay$!

    Enough of this web browsing! I've got work to do finishing the rest of the house!

    Happy Holidays!
    -Phil

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