Blizzards and houses: What homeowners need to know about driveways, roofs, more
Sheri Fallacaro of Smithtown, right, shovels with her son, Vincent, 19, in front of her mother-in-law's home on Dewey Road in Commack Tuesday. Credit: Barry Sloan
This week's blizzard has left Long Island homeowners with mountainous piles of snow, and a few questions.
When it comes to removing snow from roofs, yards and driveways, hiring professionals and making sure your home is protected from the elements, here's what the experts have to say.
Should I plow my whole driveway?
Yes, said John Berlingieri, founder and CEO of Berrington Snow Removal in Holbrook. That's because the cycle of freezing and thawing will leave homeowners with a different problem.
With the forecast ahead, "they should remove all the snow from their driveways, because if not, it's going to melt, freeze up and become a sheet of ice," Berlingieri said.
Putting down rock salt on driveways and walkways will help prevent slippery surfaces, too. But for long driveways in particular, letting snow collect behind where your vehicle is parked can create a hazardous area later.
Homeowners should "look at the whole picture," Berlingieri said. "You have to get it all out."
Should I worry about my roof?
The short answer is no, as long your roof is up to code, said Tom Jannace. He's the owner of Tom Jannace Roofing Inc., based in Stony Brook.
"If your concern is water entering and getting inside the house, as long as the roof was installed professionally and it's not outdated, you should be OK," he said.
A cause for concern would be if there's a slight fluctuation in the weather, Jannace added.
"The only time anyone could have a problem is if we have an enormous amount of snow and it doesn't have a chance to melt off," he said. "It's still a large quantity of snow sitting, and then we get a little temperature change and we get precipitation in the form of rain. So now, the snow can absorb it like a sponge, and that's when it gets really heavy."
In that case, homeowners with low-pitch roofs — found in ranch-style homes, for example — might be able to get up there and use a shovel to remove the snow themselves, Jannace said. But, "for the average homeowner that's not climbing roofs on a daily basis, the risk of injury is so much greater," he warned.
When a roof has pre-existing structural instability, the snow will exacerbate it, Berlingieri said. And when the temperature starts going up, "the snow is going to slide off their roofs," he said, creating more cleanup below.
It's safest to call in a professional for roofing troubles. Jannace recommends homeowners do their research: See how many years the company has been operating and what their history of Consumer Affairs license and complaint violations look like.
In general, "just keep an eye on the condition and the age," he said.
Any advice for trying to buy or sell a home in this weather?
For sellers, "I would suggest not allowing anybody on your property if your surfaces have not been shoveled, salted and sanded," said Dana Bartel, a real estate agent with Compass, based in Westhampton Beach. "Make sure everything is completely taken care of before you allow your agent to schedule showings."
Showings can easily be canceled due to inclement weather, so hopeful buyers should double-check before heading out to house hunt. And you never know what the condition of the street or property will be when you arrive, Bartel said.
"On the buyers' side, make sure you wear boots or shoes with really good treads, so you're looking out for your own personal safety," she said.
Of course, potential buyers can end up tracking a trail of snow into the showing. Sellers should be prepared for that, especially if there are multiple appointments in one day.
"In an ideal world, there will be a place to sit right by the door with a towel or you take your shoes off," Bartel said. "Or sometimes the listing agent will provide booties to put on over your shoes. If you want to sell the house, that's just what you have to do."
How can I find a reputable snow removal service?
New York Attorney General Letitia James is warning New Yorkers of price gouging for snow-related goods and services.
So if you need backup while shoveling, working with a familiar company that offers snow removal is a good place to start, Bartel said.
"If you have a landscaping company, a lot of local landscapers will also do snow plowing and snow removal in the off- offseason," she said. "Obviously make sure they're licensed and insured to do that, but that allows you to cut down on the number of calls you have to make."
Check with your landscaper and "get on that services list" during the summer, if possible, Bartel added.
Additionally, Berlingieri has seen Long Islanders find success by utilizing local Facebook groups for recommendations.
"That's probably the best resource, since they're community vetted," he said.
What (or who) am I forgetting about?
After taking care of all of the above, homeowners may want to throw down their shovels and wait for the rest to melt. But there could be more to consider.
"For emergency egress, you really have to clear the back doors," Berlingieri said. "If there's a house fire and a window is blocked with snow, you can't jump out the window. And basement entrances, egress windows."
Clearing a path through the backyard to the fence and making sure the gate isn't being obstructed by snow is important, too — especially for dog owners.
Lastly, be conscious of all of the people coming and going from your property: Homeowners should create paths for mail carriers and delivery service workers.
"Make it accessible for them; think of how hard they're working," Berlingieri said.
Rachel Weiss joined Newsday in 2016. As a real estate/living multimedia reporter, Rachel writes feature stories and contributes to and appears in on-camera video packages. She was the lead reporter on Newsday’s LI Acts of Kindness series.
