Record snows mean record Ice Dams
With the record snow fall and constantly changing temperatures, Minnesota is seeing one of the toughest winters for ice dams in a long time. Here is some information that should help you understand this common winter problem.
What is an ice dam and how is it formed?
Ice damming can form on just about any residential roof given the right circumstances. It does not matter whether the roof is old or new; all ages of roofs are susceptible to ice dams. In almost all cases, ice dams begin inside the house, when heated air leaks up into the unheated attic. In the winter, the roof above the unheated attic is cold. When warm air leaks into the unheated attic, it creates warm areas on the roof which in turn cause the snow on the exterior of the roof to melt. The melting snow moves down the roof slope until it reaches the cold overhang, where it refreezes. The process continues, causing ice to build up along the eaves and form a dam. Eventually this dam forces the water to back up under the shingles and sometimes into the ceiling or wall inside the home.
So what is the root cause?
The root cause of ice dams is heat loss. By reducing the amount of heat that is lost through your attic, you can slow down, or even in some cases stop the process of ice dams forming. Newer roofs have an “Ice and Water Shield” on them to help protect your home. The Minnesota Department of Commerce has published a document explaining ice dams and heat loss. Here is the link- http://greatriverremodeling.com/main2/Ice_Dams_110802041816_IceDams.pdf
Does having Ice and Water Shield automatically mean that I will not have a leak?
Building codes dictate the minimum distance from the edge of the roof the Ice and Water Shield needs to extend up. Ice and water shield is a great way to protect your home. However, if you have a poorly insulated attic with none of the heat bypasses sealed, you could still have problems.
What about my gutters? Are they causing the problem?
Gutters are often mistakenly blamed for causing ice dams. Truth is, they are often the victims. Ice forming on your roof can damage your gutters by weighing them down and bending them, thus changing the slope and rendering them less effective.
So what do I do if I have an ice dam?
Prevention is still the key. There are two ways to minimize or prevent ice dams. First off, having a properly insulated and ventilated attic with all of the “heat bypass” areas sealed will go a long way towards not having this problem. Keeping your roof relatively free from snow, and keeping the vents from getting covered with snow are also good preventative steps. Most hardware stores carry snow rakes which are great for removing snow off the roof while standing on the ground. We do not recommend getting up on your roof and starting to shovel it off unless you have experience with roofing and can make sure you do not damage the shingles. If you are already getting an ice dam, it is best to have a professional roofing company remove the ice dam with a steamer. Great River Remodeling offers Roof Snow Removal and Ice Dam Removal. Please feel free to call us for a quote. We are fully insured and our work is performed by our professional roofing crews to make sure there is no damage to your roof during the process.
If you need to have your roof cleared of snow, or you have ice dams forming, don’t wait until you have a leak. Call us today for a quote on snow and ice dam removal.
Tags: roof snow removal