“How To Solve Almost All Your Roof Ice Dam Problems”
Roof ice dams can get up to 12 inches thick.
Roof ice dams can cause lots of problems including:
wood rot
ruined insulation
damage the homes interior
mold growth
worn out shingles
gutters to overflow and freeze on walkways
Damage from roof ice dams could cost you hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars. You would also have to invest several hours of your time dealing with contractors to fix the ceiling damage.
How To Deal With Roof Ice Dams
You have several options for dealing with roof ice dams. You may be able to take action to deal with the ice dams yourself or you can hire a roofing contractor to do it for you.
If you are located in Oakland County Michigan Dependable Roofer can help you to solve your roof ice dam problem.
How to fix ice dam problems before the damage your roof and home, here’s how:
Use a snow rake to remove snow from the roof before the ice dams form
Install electric heat cables to melt the snow before the ice dams form
Insulate and ventilate your attic to minimize ice dam formation
Get your roof repaired or replaced and install waterproof underlayment
You can apply calcium chloride to melt ice dams that have already formed
How to use a snow rake to prevent roof ice dams
Remove the snow regularly from the roof with your Roof Snow Rake. By raking the snow off your roof you will reduce the chances of an ice dam forming. You don’t’ have to clean the entire roof area, mainly the bottom edge of the roof, about 3 or 4 feet wide along the eave edge.
After you have cleaned off the bottom edge of the roof the snow will melt off when the sun comes out, this will keep the eave edge free of ice.
Watch the video below to see how to use a Roof Snow Rake
You can use roof heat cables to prevent ice dams
Roof heat cables melt snow
Roof De-Icer Cables
If you have a leak that keeps re-occurring then installing heat cables to melt the snow and ice may be the only solution.
Some roof configurations are prone to leak because the design of the roof funnels too much water into a confined area. If your roof has a valley that is very close to a wall it will be prone to leakage in that corner. You may need to install heat cables to prevent the build up of ice in the corner.
Some roof designs require heat cables to prevent leakage
Tips For Installing Roof Heat Cables
Install the roof heat cables before snow and ice build up on your roof.
The roof heat cables must be plugged into an outlet with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
Don not use an extension cord with the roof heat cables
Make sure you get a cable long enough to reach an outlet, and to go through the gutters as well as the downspouts
You can turn the roof heat cables off after the snow is melted to save on electricity cost.
Poor Attic Insulation causes ice dams by allowing heat from inside the home to melt snow. The melted snow runs down and freezes at the gutter or bottom edge of the roof.
Adding more Fiberglass Insulation can help eliminate ice dams. Proper ventilation will help keep the attic cool and prevent ice dams. Many homes only have about 6 inches of insulation, they should have about 18 inches to meet today's standards.
Blown in fiberglass insulation
You can minimize ice dams, save on energy bills and increase the comfort of your home by adding insulation.
Calcium Chloride can be applied directly on the ice dam to melt it.
You can hire a professional roofing contractor to apply calcium chloride to the ice dams. It’s not advisable for homeowner do this yourself because it’s too dangerous, you could fall and get hurt or killed.
Calcium Chloride can be applied to the ice dam
You can get your roof repaired or replaced and waterproofing underlayment can be installed.
If your roof is old and worn out you might want to consider repairing the roof or replacing it. If your roof has two layers of shingles it will be more susceptible to leakage in the winter time. The best option might be to tear off the shingles so that waterproof underlayment can be installed.
Here’s How Dependable Roofer Can Help You Solve Your Roof Ice Dam Problems
Roof Heat Cable Installation
Roof Snow Removal
Apply Calcium Chloride To Ice Dams
Roof Repair Services
Roof Replacement Services
Attic Insulation Services are only available with a Roof Replacement project
In helping hundreds of homeowners over 24 years, we’ve identified these key factors, which our best clients share….
Preference for working with the most successful professionals they can find
Willingness to listen to and act on expert advice
Understands that their roof ice dams are a complex problem that should be expertly managed
Arrives at their decision based on best value, not the lowest price
Values their own time, does not want it wasted – and respect our time as well
Appreciates a Step-By-Step System, with everybody on the same page
If you’re serious about solving your roof ice dam problem the next step is to talk with Michael Lovett.
Dependable Roofer LLC
6001 N Adams Suite 205
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
Phone: 248-646-7663
Hours: 9:00 to 5:00 Monday- Friday
We do Roofing, Siding & Gutters in Southeast Michigan including the following cities: Auburn Hills, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Clarkston, Farmington Hills, Franklin, Lake Orion, Lapeer, Macomb Twp, Orchard Lake, Pontiac, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Shelby Twp, Southfield, Sterling Heights, Troy, Utica, Warren, Waterford, West Bloomfield, MI
Copyright 2012 Michael E. Lovett. All Rights Reserved
Questions? Call us at 248-646-7663
