Many homeowners in
Minnesota have experienced a winter condition
called “ice damming.” Ice dams
occur when a sequence of weather conditions
take place during a brief time frame. The
following are commonly asked questions regarding
ice dams:
What
is an ice dam?
Ice Dams are formed when the snow melts from
the top of the roof and refreezes at the bottom
edge forming a dam. This process is repeated
day after day forming a larger dam until the
melted snow cannot run off the roof.
What
caused my home to leak?
Ice dam related leaks occur when warm, heated
air from the home begins to escape through
the insulation and into the attic area of
the house. Without proper ventilation, this
warm air collects in the attic area and may
warm the underside of the roof decking.
With outside temperatures
keeping the ice dam in place, the warm decking
melts the bottom layer of the ice turning
it into water. This under layer of water will
run down the shingles until it meets the “dam”
at the roof edge. The water then pools and
backs up underneath the shingles and enters
the attic area through nail holes and seams
in the roof decking.
Why
does my roof not keep the water out?
Shingle roof systems are designed for water
to flow from the top of the roof to the lower
sections where it should exit the roof either
into a gutter or onto the ground. Shingled
roofs are not designed to hold water or prevent
water from entering if the wind blows it uphill.
Ice dam related leaks are
caused simply because water cannot get off
of the roof. This is not a design flaw with
the roofing or an indication of a poorly installed
roof. Ice dams are winter storm conditions
which prevent the shingle roof system from
letting the water flow off the edge.
What
do I do if an ice dam happens?
Call a professional to remove the ice dam
from your roof. You need to have the barrier
of ice removed at the gutter line or remove
the ice build-up on the roof area before it
melts from underneath. It can be very dangerous
going onto your roof with these conditions.
Also, in removing ice from either the gutter
or the roof, you may cause damage to these
areas which can cause more leakage.
What
can I do to prevent ice dams?
There is no “cure” for ice damming,
but you can minimize the chance your home
will be affected by the following steps:
Who
is responsible for ice dams and the resulting
leaks?
Ice dams are the result of winter storm conditions.
Because they are related to winter weather
and not a roof flaw, damage caused by water
is not covered by a shingle manufacturer’s
or roofing company’s warranty. Shingled
roofs are designed to make water go onto the
ground, not for holding water.
There are many products
on the market to help fend off ice dam leaks.
Roofing contractors are able to provide information
for re-roofing clients to choose from.
The final responsibility
remains with the homeowner when re-roofing
to weigh the cost of prevention and protection
products against the possible cost of damage
if an ice dam occurs.
Stock Roofing Company, LLC.,
along with the expertise of our employees,
can find a roofing solution that best fits
your needs. For more information on our services,
manufacturers, free estimates for commercial
or residential roofing, or if you simply have
industry-related questions, please
contact us.
