The Trouble With Ice Dams

Winter in New Hampshire can be rough. In fact, it’s often one of the harsher winters in the United States. But if there’s anything that helps push you through, it’s your home and it’s roof. Now, we get that you hate to think about the possibility of something going wrong with your roof later down the line — and trust us, that’s perfectly normal — but we think that sometimes it’s good to let you know what you should do if something were to go wrong.

A common problem that many homes experience at some point is ice dams. Caused by poor ventilation and drainage, ice dams are a pesky problem that should be taken care of immediately to avoid serious damage.

The trouble with ice dams

The trouble with ice dams is that they can creep up on people.

Following a storm, when the snow starts to thaw and melt, where does the water go? Straight into your gutters or running off your roof, we hope! Unfortunately in some instances, that is not the case, and as a result ice dams can form on your roof.

More typically, ice dams are caused by heat loss from inside the home, especially after a heavy snow fall. The heat from your home may rise into your attic due to a lack of insulation and proper ventilation. During the day that heat loss will lead to the melting of snow on your roof area. At night once the sun sets and the temperatures drop, that melting will refreeze. This creates ice dams.

Ice dams are known for their ability cause serious damage to your home. On the exterior, they can loosen shingles or even rip gutters out of place. But if they are left untreated, ice dams can also lead to water backing up under those shingles and draining into the interior of your home. If the water is unable properly drain, it will eventually work its way into the next available area. This typically ends up being within the attic space or within an upper exterior wall of the home.

Keeping your home protected

Currently dealing with ice dams in your home? Want to avoid a similar scenario arising in the future? Consult with a professional contractor. A professional is going to focus on proper ventilation within your attic and roof space. This will include proper ventilation, such as soffit and ridge vents for proper airflow, and cap shingles as necessary to allow the roof to breathe. During the roof installation, an ice and waterproof underlayment will be applied, along with a synthetic water resistant underlayment. Together these serve as a moisture barrier and your roof’s first line of defense against water. Next, the shingles will be secured to the roof. The most common type of shingles used in North America are asphalt shingles. They are known for their durability, affordability, and are available in a wide range of colors. The shingles installed by our professionals are Made in New England, so they are designed to withstand the New England elements.

Should you find that your roof is missing shingles, has a leak, there are shingles resting on your gutters, or you notice more visible signs of damage, it is time to call us!