Ice Dams and Roof Damage: The Unknown Facts

You must be aware of the beautiful icicles that begin to form along the edges of your roof during the winter storms. Although they look good, they are giving hints of an ice dam. This increases the need for residential roofing services.

A Closer Look at Ice Damming

Your roof will be able to handle the snow if it is not too massive to cause weight-bearing problems. The problem usually occurs when the heat starts melting the snow. This heat mainly arrives from the interior of the attic because of inadequate insulation, from other air leaks letting the warm air in, or from the sun.

This causes the water to run down the roof into the gutters. It is fine when this process occurs gradually, and when the temperatures don’t fall very steeply. However, in most cases, the melted snow starts freezing after reaching the edge of the roofline.

After the sunset, it begins to compile, creating a dam at the edge of the roof. This causes the moisture to back up and shingles to lift, letting the water get underneath and giving rise to the risk of interior leaks.

Steps to Implement

It is not wise to use household tools (such as shovels) for eliminating the ice buildup as that may cause serious damage to your roof.

You should also avoid throwing salt on the roof as it is not so effective and may even damage the underlying plants.

In case of leakage caused by the ice dam in your scuttle space or attic, a box fan can be pointed for freezing it to prevent any extra damage, thereby allowing the snow to melt and drain off.

A roof rake can also be used for raking the snow away. Although it may not eliminate the already existing ice dams, it can surely help prevent its further formation if used immediately after a snow event.

It is better to get in touch with a residential roofing service for more professional assistance.

Steps for Prevention

You will be surprised to know that leaks from ice dams are mostly caused by problems within the house and not by the roof.

It is the temperature difference between the eaves and the roof center that causes ice dams. Hence it is important to maintain an even temperature to avoid the problem.

This can be achieved by the introduction of insulation, increasing the attic ventilation, and sealing the air leaks to prevent warm air from entering the scuttle.

We Are Here to Help

We at A&S Services LLC provide the most cutting-edge and best quality residential roofing services in OKC.

Our highly trained experts take the worry away from your mind and provide outstanding results to meet your expectations. Visit our website today to schedule your free quote.