Ice Dam Problems And Solutions
Ice dams are formed at the edge of your roof, as snow
tends to build up during the winter. Snow tends to accumulate near the
bottom of the roof, often melting during the day and freezing when the
temperatures drop in the evening.
Eventually you could have a thick area of ice surrounding the perimeter
of your roof. This ice will start to block melting snow as it turns into
water, preventing it from draining off the roof. The ice forms a
watertight dam, often holding water behind it, acting as a reservoir for
the water.
Since this water has no place to go, it will soon build up, looking for
any little cracks or holes it can go into. These holes are normally from
the nails or staples that are holding the roof tile or shingle in place.
The water will actually reverse directions, instead of flowing down the
slope of the roof, it will start to flow backwards, underneath the
shingles.
Once the water is underneath the shingles, it has penetrated the first
layer of protection, the roof shingles. The second layer of protection
is usually roofing paper. Depending on the thickness and installation
process, this paper can have holes from nails or staples or rips and
tears from poor installation or uneven roof framing.
Ice dams are common in areas where snow and freezing temperatures last
for long periods of time. Most people think that icicles are neat when
they're hanging off of the roof's edge, giving your home that Norman
Rockwell picture perfect, winter Christmas look. These are your first
clues that ice could be building up underneath the snow on top of the
roof.
Removing the snow could be hazardous to your health. Large sections of
snow and ice, falling on top of you as you're standing on a ladder,
doing your best to remove it from the roof might not be a good idea.
Walking on top of a wet icy roof, isn't something I would be interested
in doing either.
Contact someone with experience and liability insurance for help with
your roof. If you hire someone and they fall on your property and get
hurt, you could be liable. Most roofing contractors can help you solve
damn ice dam problems. Find one in your area, that you are comfortable
with.