There Are Still People In Dallas Without Power & Heat, and Icepocalypse is Getting Very Old…
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The latest estimates put it at 20,000 plus in Dallas and Collin Counties. That would include our Executive Editor, Joanna England, and frequent contributor Karen Eubank, both of whom live in East Dallas. Jo has been texting me since her house went cold Friday. She says “this photo is two streets over from me. We are finally seeing more Oncor and Alabama Power trucks in our area.” I’m sure Jo will be figuring out just what the hell took Oncor so long to get some parts of town power, soon as her fingers thaw.
Alabama Power? Does this mean Oncor had to call in for support? Parts of our ‘hood just got power — or “went hot” as the Oncor dudes put it — last night. When I asked them why the selective service, they pointed to a bunch of trees weighing down some lines.
Kind of like this tree weighed in on this truck.
Also, I was at an open-house yesterday at a home with a metal roof. Looks to me like the ice was melting down in sheaths! I have so many questions for our CandysDirt Approved Builders I will keep them busy all month long… a sampling:
1. How much ice can a typical Dallas roof hold? That stuff is heavy.
2. I know this happens once a year, but maybe we do need heated front sidewalks, especially for elderly residents? My front walkway still looks like a slip and slide.
3. Can gutters withstand the weight of the ice?
4. What’s a better roof for ice, metal seamed or composition?
5. What’s the best insulation for days like this?
1. How much ice can a typical Dallas roof hold? That stuff is heavy.
Answer: Roofs are designed to bear a significant amount of weight and different designs will hold differing amounts. This ice storm is one of the more significant we'll experience and you won't hear about roof collapses much if at all because the structure can withstand it. A one inch layer of water or ice weighs approximately five lb per square foot. A roof designed for a 20 lb per square foot snow load could theoretically hold up to four inches of ice. How much snow is that? Meteorologists estimate that about 12 inches of snow is equivalent to one inch of water, which means a roof should hold up to four feet of snow. Wet and packed snow weighs more, so a roof with a load of wet or packed snow might only be able to hold up to three feet of snow.
2. I know this happens once a year, but maybe we do need heated front sidewalks, especially for elderly residents? My front walkway still looks like a slip and slide.
Answer: For the few times a year we experience this, rock salt or chemical deicers are quite good and less cost prohibitive than tearing out existing walks and installing heating elements.
3. Can gutters withstand the weight of the ice?
Answer: Gutters should be able to support the ice, but ultimately it will depend on their installation, age and whether they have been kept clear of tree debris (twigs, acorns, leaves) prior to the precipitation accumulation. Most new gutters are only aluminum, which is relatively soft but won't rust.
4. What’s a better roof for ice, metal seamed or composition?
Answer: There isn't necessarily a 'better' roof for ice. The metal roof you mentioned conducts heat faster than composition and it also doesn't provide any grip surface to which the ice can adhere, thus the sliding of ice like on the news in Plano & Addison. Roofing in Texas is designed for ice, rain and even wind resistance.
5. What’s the best insulation for days like this?
Answer: There are different types of insulation for different applications. Blown in insulation is the best as it fills the nooks and crannies in a typical attic space. Don't forget to insulate your attic door. That aperture is a likely spot to lose heat from your home as well as to allow heat in during summer. A properly ventilated attic space is key to utility savings as well as good home structure maintenance.
-Cory Smith, Shingles Roofing, http://www.DFWShingles.com
Thanks Cory! We need you on the blog!
Cory: Blown-in is not so great when it comes to rats and critters, as my daughter recently discovered. We shall have her story, soon!
1. How much ice can a typical Dallas roof hold? That stuff is heavy.
Answer: Roofs are designed to bear a significant amount of weight and different designs will hold differing amounts. This ice storm is one of the more significant we'll experience and you won't hear about roof collapses much if at all because the structure can withstand it. A one inch layer of water or ice weighs approximately five lb per square foot. A roof designed for a 20 lb per square foot snow load could theoretically hold up to four inches of ice. How much snow is that? Meteorologists estimate that about 12 inches of snow is equivalent to one inch of water, which means a roof should hold up to four feet of snow. Wet and packed snow weighs more, so a roof with a load of wet or packed snow might only be able to hold up to three feet of snow.
2. I know this happens once a year, but maybe we do need heated front sidewalks, especially for elderly residents? My front walkway still looks like a slip and slide.
Answer: For the few times a year we experience this, rock salt or chemical deicers are quite good and less cost prohibitive than tearing out existing walks and installing heating elements.
3. Can gutters withstand the weight of the ice?
Answer: Gutters should be able to support the ice, but ultimately it will depend on their installation, age and whether they have been kept clear of tree debris (twigs, acorns, leaves) prior to the precipitation accumulation. Most new gutters are only aluminum, which is relatively soft but won't rust.
4. What’s a better roof for ice, metal seamed or composition?
Answer: There isn't necessarily a 'better' roof for ice. The metal roof you mentioned conducts heat faster than composition and it also doesn't provide any grip surface to which the ice can adhere, thus the sliding of ice like on the news in Plano & Addison. Roofing in Texas is designed for ice, rain and even wind resistance.
5. What’s the best insulation for days like this?
Answer: There are different types of insulation for different applications. Blown in insulation is the best as it fills the nooks and crannies in a typical attic space. Don't forget to insulate your attic door. That aperture is a likely spot to lose heat from your home as well as to allow heat in during summer. A properly ventilated attic space is key to utility savings as well as good home structure maintenance.
-Cory Smith, Shingles Roofing, http://www.DFWShingles.com
Thanks Cory! We need you on the blog!
Cory: Blown-in is not so great when it comes to rats and critters, as my daughter recently discovered. We shall have her story, soon!
I am taking shelter in Forney until I get the all-clear from Oncor. A lot of folks in my neighborhood are frustrated with the slow service and buggy reporting from Oncor. Let's hope they don't have an encore of this kind of horrible service next ice storm (and there will be a nest one!).
I am taking shelter in Forney until I get the all-clear from Oncor. A lot of folks in my neighborhood are frustrated with the slow service and buggy reporting from Oncor. Let's hope they don't have an encore of this kind of horrible service next ice storm (and there will be a nest one!).
Oh and window questions and gas insert fireplace questions, and tankless water heater questions ( one gal complained in the restaurant today that the tankless water heater meant no hot water at all!) and heated floors in bathrooms, Oh man I've got a million questions.
Oh and window questions and gas insert fireplace questions, and tankless water heater questions ( one gal complained in the restaurant today that the tankless water heater meant no hot water at all!) and heated floors in bathrooms, Oh man I've got a million questions.
[…] Custom Homes are built on the premise of making energy efficiency stylish and modern. So when Icemaggedon came around earlier this month, folks with Bauhaus homes stayed cozy and warm in their homes despite electricity outages, while […]
[…] Custom Homes are built on the premise of making energy efficiency stylish and modern. So when Icemaggedon came around earlier this month, folks with Bauhaus homes stayed cozy and warm in their homes despite electricity outages, while […]