Ice Problems On Roof

This photo clearly shows how laying heat cable on a roof edge in a zig zag pattern does not work.

Ice problems on roof.

Stop ice dams with a cold roof. First heat collects in the attic and warms the roof except at the eaves. Effects of ice dams. If dams are a serious threat to your roof the problem is usually due to poor ventilation.

The problem occurs when the space inside an attic or the underside of the roof deck is above the freezing point. Thereby elinmating the ice dams. As the warm air beneath the roof heats the shingles and melts the snow on the roof the water flows down the roofline until it reaches the overhanging eave structure where the freezing temperatures cause the water to refreeze. See below for a shopp.

Water seepage and melting result in damage to many roof systems which is preventable with the installation of weather watch. Having a roof rake would help to eliminate the snow. Moisture entering the home from ice dams can lead to the growth of mold and. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home and cause damage to walls ceilings insulation and other areas.

As you can see the homeowner was forced to manually rake the roof edge which is a problematic process in itself to temporarily avoid roof ice problems. This scenario is often the result of a warm attic. An ice water shield is a critical element to prevent water damage to the edges and valleys of your roof. Here s a breakdown of the conditions that lead to the formation of ice dams.

Next snow melts on the warm roof and then freezes on the cold eaves. My point is insulation and air sealing alone don t not stop ice dams they certainly help and save homeowners money yes they do. An ice dam can damage both your roof and the inside of your home. These dams can tear apart your home so limit them by keeping your roof clear of snow.

Ice dams and icicles form when the snow melts runs down your roof and refreezes near the edge. It will put gutters and downspouts at risk too. Ice dams happen when ice melts trickles down the roof then freezes again. Ice dams are a common sight in northern new england winters and home partners has dealt with quite a few.

Finally ice accumulates along the eaves forming a dam. I would like you to address all the issues with ice dams and offer sound solutions to those issues. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow water from draining off the roof.