Ice Problems On Roof

An ice dam is a hump of ice that forms at the edge of a roof under certain wintertime conditions.

Ice problems on roof.

These dams can tear apart your home so limit them by keeping your roof clear of snow. Thereby elinmating the ice dams. Moisture entering the home from ice dams can lead to the growth of mold and. This scenario is often the result of a warm attic.

Here s a breakdown of the conditions that lead to the formation of ice dams. This only occurs when part of your roof warms to above 32 degrees f warm enough to melt the snow while the roof edge remains below freezing. An ice water shield is a critical element to prevent water damage to the edges and valleys of your roof. First heat collects in the attic and warms the roof except at the eaves.

Ask this old house general contractor tom silva explains the best ways to keep your roof and gutters free from those dreaded 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. Stop ice dams with a cold roof. 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.

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. This photo clearly shows how laying heat cable on a roof edge in a zig zag pattern does not work. Ice dams happen when ice melts trickles down the roof then freezes again.

Effects of ice dams. Having a roof rake would help to eliminate the snow. 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. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home and cause damage to walls ceilings insulation and other areas.

Water seepage and melting result in damage to many roof systems which is preventable with the installation of weather watch. Finally ice accumulates along the eaves forming a dam. The problem occurs when the space inside an attic or the underside of the roof deck is above the freezing point. If dams are a serious threat to your roof the problem is usually due to poor ventilation.

An ice dam can damage both your roof and the inside of your home. I would like you to address all the issues with ice dams and offer sound solutions to those issues. Next snow melts on the warm roof and then freezes on the cold eaves.