Ice on the Walkway

[Doofy]

A couple of images might clarify my post, and yes checking the insulation is on the list of things to do as a long term solution. You can see there is a diverter at the 90 degree corner where the gutters meet, but it is not as larger as the one in the imager above. The ground is pretty flat at the entrance. And, the snow melts from the top and sides of the valley and comes over the edge at the diverter as well as along the edge of the gutters. I'm thinking for this winter that heat mats in the area where the water drips is my best solution. Longer term, I still need to investigate the options, including getting a larger diverter. Up until the past two days thee was about 8" of snow on the roof, but temperatures in the 40s and 50s melted most of the snow and high winds too care of the rest. It is snowing again today.

Looks like a lousy roof design for snow country. Hope you find a solution before someone gets hurt.

 

[oosik]

If the weather remains cold - I'll leave a skim of snow on the porch & steps. Crunchy snow will prevent slipping also.

 

[metalheart]

Not the best roof for snow/rain, but apparently this part of the house was the last of several remodel/additions. But for me, it is what it is and the issue is to find some workable solution. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

 

[MossRoad]

I'd guess that if water is coming off of that gutter corner, there's something wrong with the gutters, like pitched incorrectly, or full of debris. Looks like you have some sort of leaf guard on there. But if water is dripping down at that spot in winter, from melting snow, the most likely thing is the area of the roof is not insulated well, the heat rises through the roof, melts the snow, the water runs down to the gutters and freezes. That causes an ice dam and it'll be there all winter.

Quick solution would be heat tape on the roof and gutters for a way for the water to drain off the valley, and through the gutters and downspouts.

Or, as I do, get a roof rake. Standing on the ground you can pull snow off of the roof about 8' up from the gutters. You have to do it after every snow to avoid the ice dam. But it works. Cheap temporary solution and good exercise too.

 

[Deere Dude]

We had 6 steps up to an entrance platform with a roof design sort of like yours. The platform was pitched away from the house, slightly. It was in Wisconsin and it was impossible to keep clear except with CCL and sand mixed. You can imagine what that did to nice carpeting in the house. After a couple falls on the butt we started using a different door 20 feet away. It was tough on visitors though.

 

[RoyJackson]

First, we move as much snow away from the walks as possible, than use pet safe ice melt. No CaCl on the walks, but I do use it on parts of the driveway...but not where we walk.
The Pet Safe is easier on the floors...we also have a mat, and like others, shoes are swapped out for slippers upon entry

 

[metalheart]

Looks as if the short term solution is to remove snow from the valleys-- there are two more also -- this winter. A neighbor came over with his roof rake before the snow melted and took as much down as he could reach and that worked ok. That is not a job I am interested in doing. I used my tractor to move all the snow he took down and I was fine with that job. Had a fellow come over this afternoon who is going to give me a price on shoveling/raking the problem areas of the roof when the snow builds up so that should help some. Combine that with some heat mats -- still looking at options for that -- for the area around the front door and that is the solution for this winter. After snow season is over I'll have some new insulation installed in the attic and put some self-regulating heat tape up for next year. Step-by-step learning to live in snow county.

 

[MossRoad]

Or, like other people do, use a different door. The front one is for decoration.