Blizzard Safety with Mike Holmes

Got winter blizzards on the brain? HGTV star Mike Holmes gives us the cold, hard facts on protecting your home from snow storms.

As I write this, I'm bracing myself for the east coast's second brutal blizzard in two weeks. The last time snow and winds struck our area, we talked about what to do right after a blizzard. This time around, though, we want to offer the best possible advice on what to do before, during and after a big storm.

So I turned to home improvement pro Mike Holmes -- star of HGTV's "Holmes on Homes" and "Holmes Inspection" and the brand new publication Holmes: The Magazine to Make It Right -- for tips on protecting our houses from winter's wrath. Because this may be the first snow storm of 2011, but you know it won't be the last!

Here's what Holmes advises:

1. Make Sure Your Home's Envelope Is Impenetrable
The most important thing to remember when prepping your home for bad weather is that you don't want water that comes from melting snow to get behind any exterior sheathing -- the stucco, siding or bricks. If it does, the wood framing and structure will get wet. You want your exterior structure to be able to repel water -- but if any water does get in, you want the water vapor to be able to escape. It'll dry out eventually, but repeated wetting and drying will lead to rot. You also don't want the water to get further inside and soak the insulation. It's very difficult for moisture to escape once it's trapped within the building's envelope.

2. Remove Snow Immediately
Start by clearing snow away from doors and windows. Snow melting could come in windows, doors and other openings in the house, leading to mold issues. Should your area receive a large amount of snow, make every effort to remove large snow deposits from roofs and away from intakes, doors and windows, as large quantities of melting snow -- especially on roofs -- can cause a great deal of damage to not just siding and insulation, but to gutters as well.

3. Protect Your Home's Walkways without Chemicals
Keep the walkways and steps clear. However, when clearing walkways and driveways made of concrete, do not use salt. Salt eats through concrete and causes it to crack. Use eco-friendly products that don't contain harmful chemicals.

4. Prevent and Remove Ice Dams
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home, causing damage to walls, ceilings, and insulation. To prevent the formation of the dam, be diligent about removing snow from the roof before it freezes; use a roof rake or push broom.




Take a look at this video for shoveling safety tips!