The brutal winter of 2015 has led to building damage across the country. Both commercial and residential property owners are now experiencing ice damming problems at historic rates, and insurance claims are reaching all-time highs.
As you may know, an ice dam forms when the roof over the attic gets warm enough to melt the underside of the layer of snow on the roof. When an ice dam gets big enough, melted water backs up behind it and seeps underneath the shingles. Eventually, it will drip into the insulation and down into the ceilings and exterior walls beneath the eave, ruining sheetrock and paint.
As difficult as damage is to cope with, like all repairs, fixing up your home after damage presents opportunities to do new things – to turn lemons into lemonade.
Take a new look at colors.
If you have had ice damming, you probably have damage to your walls and ceilings. Take a look at some of the colors that are being featured this year to see if you want a new look or inspiration. For 2015, the hot colors in home decor range from ice cream pastels to a few deep, saturated hues. The pastels include blush, sky blue, vanilla, lilac and pale peach with darker shades like charcoal, chocolate or navy.
Rethink your lighting.
If you are plastering or dry walling, this may be the time to change ceiling fixtures and move outlets. While a room is a mess and walls are down, you can step back and decide the best ways to use artificial light for functional and aesthetic enhancement of your space. There are wonderful new designs out now in lighting that can really make a difference in the feel of a room.
Declutter and enhance furnishings.
Our design philosophy of 21st Century Zen means creating a harmonic and luxurious space with a modern, clean look. Damaged rooms give you the opportunity to start over with your furnishings. Ask yourself what you really want a room to feel like and then start removing extraneous stuff that does not fit your vision. Take a few of your best pieces and enhance them with interesting rugs, pillows and artwork.
Look hard at your floors.
Water often damages floors and carpet. This may be the time to get rid of that rug you have always disliked. Hardwood, bamboo and stone floors are always a beautiful option for a more natural look.
Prevent for future damage.
Of course, one of the most important improvements you may need to make is to take actions to prevent future damage. Check your roof. Insulate your attic from the rest of the house to avoid heat leaks. Identify and seal off sources of heat leaking, including vents, furnaces, electrical outlets and light fixtures. And proper roof ventilation allows heat to escape your attic without warming your roof and creating ice dams.
