What is Ice Damming & How to Restrict it

January 20, 2019

The experts at Dye Home Improvement want you to keep your home safe and warm this winter in Monticello and Monon. Icicles look beautiful hanging from your gutters, but they're also among your home’s worst enemies. During the sunny parts of the day, ice can melt and pool behind hanging icicles on your roof. These ice dams can create serious trouble for your home and roof, causing water to recess back up under your shingles. Eventually, that water can leak through your ceiling, causing damage to the roof and interior walls.

Here are some things that can help prevent this:

1. Ice & Water Barrier

An adhesive ice-and-water barrier is a type of self-sealing underlayment that adheres to the roof decking and secures it. You then place roof slates over the top of it. It’s required by building code in most regions. Installing an ice-and-water barrier could be a expensive project especially if you’d have to dismantle an otherwise sound roof. When installing it for the first timeAsk your local building inspector how far the adhesive would have to be installed in your region.

2. Heated Roofing Cables

Heated Roofing cables melt passageways for water to flow off the roof and prevent ice dams. Heated cables are a great last resort Contact us at Dye Home Improvement if you have any questions.

3. Try Using a Roof Rake

Another ice dam prevention product is a roof rake. A Ice rake is an aluminum scraper mounted at a right angle on a telescoping aluminum pole. Use the snow rake to clean the snow off your roof so it cannot form up an ice dam. This is one of the quickest solutions for occasional heavy snows. However, a Ice rake is only effective for single-story homes. Never use a snow rake while on a ladder. Also be careful to not break the shingles. Because roof shingles are more prone to break in the cold.

4. It’s Always Better to Have it and not Need it, Than to Need it and Not Have It.

Have all your materials ready ahead of time. Pick up the necessary tools for your DIY project to prevent an even worse ice dam project — you’ll save lots of time and frustration by getting them early before a winter storms hit. In the off chance you do need something during the storm…know we are here in Monticello and Monon to help you prevent that ice dam.

Here’s our list for winter readiness:

Air compressor

Air hose

Dust mask
Extension ladder

Flashlight
Hammer

Pry bar
Roof harness
Utility knife

Caulk
Expanding foam

· Heat cables
· Ice and water barrier
· Insulation
· Roof Vent
· Soffit Vent

5. Proper Insulation and Venting in the Attic

· Seal up attic bypasses

· Double Check your attic’s insulation levels

· Add roof and soffit vents

Additional Ice Melting Tips!

If the temperature is 5° F or warmer, regular rock salt is as good as anything. Salt lowers the freezing point of water to this temperature.

Below 5° F, opt for a salt blend. Look for a product containing calcium chloride, which can melt ice in temperatures as low as -25° F.

So…stop by Dye Home Improvement in Monticello and Monon for all of the tools, winter items, ice melt, shovels, insulation, heating cables and more! Ask for an associate to show you just where to find everything to get you on the right track.

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