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Avoid the costly collision of hot and cold and reduce the risk that ice dams will form and create a soggy mess. When heat from the interior of a building with a sloped roof escapes into the attic space, it warms the underside of the roof. Meanwhile, the roof eave outside the heated space remains at a colder temperature.

As snow accumulates on the rooftop, it melts over the warmer portion of the attic and runs down the roof. When it encounters the cold edge of the roof it refreezes. The refrozen water along the roof edge creates an “ice damming” condition, and consequently, the melted snow running down the roof begins to back up underneath the roof covering.

This water will soak the roof sheathing and leak into the attic unless there is a barrier above the sheathing. An appropriately installed secondary moisture barrier will help prevent the water from entering your property and damaging your structure and its contents.

You can prevent ice dams by ventilating and insulating your attic. But now you need to deal with the problem that exists. Here are some steps you can take to reduce the damage from an ice dam:

• Remove ice and snow from the roof to allow proper drainage. Be careful when performing this task as you can fall, be struck by falling objects or contact electrical lines. Use a snow rake to remove the snow from the ground, if possible.

• If there is an existing ice dam, melt a channel through the ice to the roof surface to create a drain path to relieve water build up.

• An easy way to do this is to fill the leg of panty hose with calcium chloride ice melter and place that on the roof. The long tube can melt a patch through the ice to allow drainage. You can refill or replace the ice melter to keep the channels open. Make sure the channel extends to the roof edge or gutter.

• You can engage the services of your roofing contractor to remove ice build up.

• If you observe water damage, hire a restoration service to dry out the walls, ceiling and structure. Not addressing minor damage can cause rot, decay and more extensive problems.

• Contact your roofer and an insulation company to correct the ventilation and heat transfer issues in your attic. This can prevent future problems.

• When replacing a roof, add an ice and water shield membrane at the edge of the roof and extend it at least five feet up the roof to protect this area against water intrusion.

• If you have suffered damage to your property, contact your Hanover Agent or Hanover Claims at www.hanover.com or 1-800-628-0250.

Source: The Hanover Insurance Group, Loss Control Dept. View a PDF of this information, suitable for printing.

The following is a true story. I handle the hull and protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance for an historic tall ship. You would recognize the name of this famous vessel.

Anyway, the president of the non-profit organization that operates the ship was reviewing the insurance coverage with me when he asked if I wrote directors and officers (D&O) liability coverage. I said I did, and that it was a specialty of mine in addition to ocean marine insurance.

I wanted to know why he was asking about D&O coverage. It isn’t something a client will usually ask about.

The gentleman said that his insurance agent was reviewing a renewal questionnaire of his D&O coverage. As they talked, the agent suddenly asked him: “You mean you actually operate your ship? You sail it?” The president of the non-profit group said that they did. The agent replied with a comment that would make the head of any organization cringe: “Oh my gosh, that changes everything. We may have a problem placing coverage.”

It turned out that the insurance agent never knew that the historic ship actually sailed and instead had simply assumed the vessel was simply a relic and was tied to the dock. It most certainly was not, having just returned from an extensive trip.

But there’s more. The president of the non-profit group drives a vehicle owned by the organization. His now ex-insurance agent had insured it as a private vehicle, not a commercially owned one. This meant that the organization head was, without knowing it, driving around without valid insurance. Imagine how he felt about that.

It’s your insurance agent’s job to ask the right questions that will ensure you have the insurance coverage you need for your individual line of work.

Never be afraid to question your agent. You pay dearly for insurance, so make sure your agent is earning the money you pay him. Insist that your agent explain the coverage you’re receiving and make sure he or she uses plain language that you can easily understand.

And never hesitate to ask any question or seek a clarification. Your insurance agent works for you, not the other way around.

This article appeared in the January 2011 issue of WorkBoat magazine, where Gene McKeever, marine insurance specialist, is a monthly columnist.

Maintaining snow and ice logs can prove to be a valuable defense if your business becomes involved in a lawsuit resulting from a slip and fall accident.

Some of the benefits to keeping proper snow and ice logs include:

• Serves as written proof of how diligent you are at removing snow and ice from your property;
• Promotes proper maintenance of your property that may help prevent slip and fall accidents from happening and/or reduce occurrences;
• Functions as a valuable record-keeping tool, which allows you to match up snow removal bills of sub contractors who maintain your property during the winter months.

Download a Snow and Ice Log, courtesy of Hanover Insurance. (PDF, new window)

As the next in a series of winter storms moves into the region, property owners and residents should be aware of the weight loads these storms may be creating, especially on flat roofs.

The unprecedented snow load on roofs in the Northeast has led to some building damage and collapse. Schools, churches, commercial and residential buildings, carports and awnings have been affected. Read more now in this PDF from Hanover Insurance.