Winter Tip

12/5/2016 (Permalink)

An Ice dam, even though it is OUTSIDE the home, can cause damage to your roof and water damage to the INSIDE of the home.

As the snow and/or ice on your roof starts to melt DOWN the roof, it may meet the larger clumps of ice in the gutter system or roof edge and have nowhere else to go but UP. This causes the water to seep beneath the shingles then drain into your attic and continue on to your ceiling, walls, flooring, insulation and other areas.

What causes Ice Dams? It is the result of heat escaping into the attic or roof space but not to the roof edge. You need your living space to be warm but the roof needs to be cold. The following are some measures to take to help keep the roof cold:

• Insulate above the living space to prevent heat escaping through the ceiling
• The space between the insulation and the roof sheathing needs vented so any escaped heat will flow to the outside - not to the roof.
• Seal where warm air leaks from the living space

In addition, our Production Manager emphasizes keeping gutter systems clear of leaves and other debris. He has witnesses many homes damaged due to Ice Dams as we live in an area that sees a lot of snow storms, ice storms, and frigid temperatures.