Preventing Ice Dams On The Roof

502-888-1396

All estimates are FREE!

Give us a call or text us today.

Serving Louisville, KY & Surrounding Areas

Review Us on Google

Locally run family business for 10+ years!

Blog Layout

Preventing Ice Dams On The Roof

Admin • December 13, 2019

Owning a house in a snow-prone area is magical. It’s like living in a wonderland where you can always have the time of your life – from organizing epic snowball fights with kids to reveling in the splendid views covered under the white blanket. That would be nothing but perfect if only there were no snags about it. The flip side of the coin is that making your home in a snowy climate means living in a high-risk area where ice dams are likely to be formed. Not only are they dangerous to those who are walking under the eaves, but also they can cause untold damage to your house.

Ice damming occurs when accumulated snow on the upper part of a sloped roof melts. The meltwater then flows down to the eaves which remain cold enough for it to freeze. Once the ice is formed along the edges of the roof, it serves as a barrier that prevents water from getting to gutters, thereby causing it to accumulate under a layer of snow.

When your roof falls victim to dams, that entails not a bit of good for your home. Sooner or later, the meltwater will pour into your attic, leading to a leaking ceiling and stained walls. Another effect of ice dams is roof damage. The snowy barriers are heavy enough to result in cracked shingles, sagging gutters, and separated downspouts. It’s in your best interest to protect your house from the dangers of this kind.

5 Proven ways to prevent ice dam damage

To avoid ice build-ups on the roof, you need to take a few preventative measures before winter comes. Here are the surefire ways to stop ice dam damage:

Get the snow off.

If your roof is not covered in tons of snow, there is nothing to accumulate, melt, and freeze. That’s why the removal method may work for those living in the areas where it snows pretty rarely. To do the job, you can use a roof rake, one of the best ice dam prevention products.

Make sure it’s well-ventilated.

When your roof is cold at the top and on the eaves, snow won’t melt. It is proper ventilation that keeps it at the uniform temperature level. By providing continuous airflow under the roofing surface, you will be able to prevent heat from getting to the top.

Reduce heat.

The reason why the attic is not the best place to place a heating unit in is that it’s too close to the roof. You’d better not use electrical appliances and everything else that produces heat there. Plus, you can insulate the attic, so the heat from other rooms does not move up.

Clean the gutters.

In wintertime, clogged gutters fail to drain meltwater that runs down the roof. As a result, it accumulates along the eaves and then freezes. Don’t forget to carry out regular clean-outs in fall to ensure that your gutters are without bits and pieces.

Cut down the trees.

If there are many trees near your house, they may cause shaded areas on your roof. And once the accumulated snow melts due to sunlight and flows to the place where it’s 10 degrees cooler, ice dams will be formed. Consider cutting the trees to prevent that from happening.

No ice damming with Home Run Improvement

Preventing ice dams is essential. This way, you will make sure your home is protect
for those wandering under the eaves. Plus, it will save you a huge amount of money on home repairs.

If dams have already been formed on your roof, you need to get rid of them. Home Run Improvement offers top-rated roofing services in Louisville to make your living more comfortable, no matter the season. You can hire us for all your roofing needs and rest assured the work will be done at the highest level even if it snows outside!

< Older Post Newer Post >