Roof Ice Dam Protection

The best way to prevent ice dams is to ensure that the air in the attic or against the bottom of the roof deck doesn t get too warm.

Roof ice dam protection.

If the air in the attic remains cold enough it can never melt the snow lying on top of the roof. Chimney flashing another vulnerable area for ice dams is around the chimney. This problem creates pockets of cold air that allow the melting snow to freeze along the roof edge. Purchasing flashing to cover the area where the stones or bricks meet the roof will help prevent ice dams from forming.

Run special ice dam prevention products adhesive ice and water barrier from 3 to 6 ft. The minimum is typically 2 feet 24 inches or 0 60 m above the vertical projection of the inside of the exterior wall. Even if you don t live in an ice dam region like minnesota colorado and wisconsin you may still consider ice barrier membrane for your home. In colder regions a good practice is to cover the first 3 feet 36 inches or 0 91 m of roof over heated space with ice and water protector.

An ice dam can form when certain parts of the roof get warm enough to melt the snow on the roof while the roof edges remain much colder and as a result prevent the melted snow from flowing down the roof. 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. Do it on your own and costs will range from 20 to 350. For an ice dam to form the warm parts of the roof generally need to be higher than 32 degrees f while the cold areas of the roof need to be below 32 degrees f this means that the outside temperatures must also be below 32 degrees f.

The main product used to protect the structure with ice dam protection from leaks is ice and water shield which is a 36 wide roll of bithane self adhered membrane that when applied to the roof deck will provide a water proof barrier between the roof shingles and the plywood substrate. Ice and water barrier is a type of self sealing underlayment that adheres to the roof decking and waterproofs it. Ice and water protector must reach above the highest expected level of ice dams which will vary by region and the slope of your roof. What is an ice dam.

The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home and cause damage to walls ceilings insulation and other areas. You shingle over the top of it. A roof inspection will determine whether the problem has to do with ventilation or missing insulation. Effects of ice dams.

Up the roof from the edge the next time you reroof fig. Insulation similarly missing insulation near the edges of the roof and exterior walls can cause ice dams. L shaped flashing made of steel can be installed by a homeowner or a roofer. Expect to pay just a few hundred dollars if you hire a pro.