WHAT IS AN ICE DAM & HOW CAN YOU FIX IT.

WHAT IS AN ICE DAM & HOW CAN YOU FIX IT.

Winters can put extra stress on your exterior. An even more challenging situation can arise when the freezing temperatures meet the melting snow at the roof's edges. An ice dam may cause significant damage to your roof and even your home's exterior. It can also pose a danger to any object below the roof edge.

HOW DO I FORM ICE DAMS?

A ridge of frozen ice at your roof's edge is also known as an "ice dam". This is where the snow that melts during the day cannot go. Ice dams can be caused by melting snow that re-freezes at the roof's edges, where there is little insulation. Combine this phenomenon with a gutter that isn't capable of draining due to freezing issues and you have a potentially dangerous situation.

If not properly sealed, the ice can expand into your home and underneath your roof decking or shingles. Ice dams could form in any home or area of a roof without gutters. You can break up ice dams, but it's best to prevent them from ever happening.

RELIEF SHORT-TERM

If you have ice dams already, you'll need to melt or break them to let the moisture and snow from your roof drain. To safely remove the ice from your roof's edge you can use a blunt instrument to break up small portions. This is tedious work that can be dangerous and must be done right to prevent any further damage to your house. The ice can also be melted with calcium chloride melting compounds. Clear your gutters and downspouts when you have access to them so that water can flow away.

HOW TO PREVENTICE ICE DAMS

The best way to prevent ice dams is to combine better insulation with venting in attic and roof eaves. The first thing to do is ensure that no heat is leaking from your living space into the areas below your roof sheathing. Proper insulation will keep heat from convection and conduction from the ceiling. Also, ventilate the space between your insulation and the roof sheathing in order to dissipate heat. If you suspect that your ice dams may originate in your gutters then the best thing to do is clean your rain gutters twice a calendar year to ensure that they drain properly.

Marietta Roofing CAN HELP PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM ICE DAMS

Marietta Roofing can help protect your home from ice dams. We can inspect your roof.

 

Marietta Roofing

Marietta, Georgia

(470) 720 5162