Rock Salt On Your Roof

What kind of salt can you put on your roof for ice dams.

Rock salt on your roof.

Just say no to salting your roof. In short rock salt can compromise the integrity of a sound roof by corroding the materials that help keep it together. Rock salt s ability to damage driveways and other outdoor pavements is relatively well known but there is another place where rock salt can do damage to your home on the roof top. The key is to avoid sodium chloride or rock salt.

Unlike other substances salt won t impair your cognitive functions but people might conclude otherwise if they see what you ve done to your roof and property. As a result it can cause damage to vulnerable parts of your roof including nail heads and aluminum flashing. Rock salt is common for de icing driveways and paths. Why you shouldn t use rock salt on your roof in their determination to melt away ice dams growing on their roof s eave and thus potentially prevent leakage and damage to their home s interior many reach for the deicer they are most familiar with rock salt as the solution.

Is it safe to use salt on your roof. Rock salt is corrosive in nature. However this is no better as chemically they. You should only use it on roofs in select circumstances like severe cold.

Corroded gutters and downspouts. Rock salt may not damage the shingles themselves but it can cause the nails holding your shingles to the roof to corrode. Rock salt contains corrosive oxidizing agents making it best suited for removing ice on harder surfaces like concrete. Discolored driveway sidewalks or front stoop.

Provided you use the right type of salt yes. It rusts nail heads. In turn this rust can cause stains and streaks on your roof. Some people use table salt for de icing instead of rock salt.