Ice Damming Prevention

With the winter months upon us, it is the perfect time to talk about ice damming. Here are a few things to pay attention to as snow, ice, and old man winter visits us:

How do I confirm the presence of an ice dam if it is impossible for me to visually check my roof?

When it’s winter out, most roofs are covered with snow. The roof that has snow on it the longest is a sign of proper attic ventilation or a well-insulated attic space.

If you notice that your roof melts snow faster than your neighbors, this is a good sign you need the attic inspected by a professional. 

If you notice that there is ice filling your gutters and up to your roof, this is the beginning signs of ice damming which is caused by improper ventilation and/or improper insulation. It typically starts in the actual gutter then starts to creep up on the roof.

It’s common to see ice cycles from the gutters. If there is ice coming down from the soffit, that means the ice or water has entered the attic space. This is not good news. Call a professional.

Worst case scenario, you will see water spotting on the ceiling around the exterior of the house. This can become so bad that it will appear to be raining, or an active leak. If you see this, call a professional immediately and contact your insurance carrier.

A bad case of ice damming will total the roof, the fascia, gutters, soffit, insulation, the ceiling, flooring, furniture, etc. Only consider hiring a roofer that inspects your attic and uses an ice and water shield on the home. It should be installed 24″ past the inner heated wall, at all penetrations and roof to wall locations.