How To Prepare For Ice Damming Season

Ask anyone in Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky how much snow they think we’ll get this year, and you’ll get a lot of opinions.

Some years we see a light dusting, but the next? We don’t see the ground for months. (Let’s not forget the 2013-2014 winter when we got nearly 50″ of snow!)

Protect your home or business this winter by ensuring your roof is properly insulated and receiving adequate ventilation to prevent ice dams.

What Is An Ice Dam?

After heavy snow, the warm air from your home can seep through the attic and melt snow accumulated on your roof.

The meltwater then runs down your roof and pools in your eaves, where it refreezes. This creates an ice dam by preventing proper commercial or residential roof drainage.

Do I Have An Ice Dam?

A great way to tell if you have an ice dam without climbing onto your roof is by looking at the icicles hanging from your home or business.

Small icicles are not of major concern, but if the icicles continue growing in size without breaking — it’s time to take note. Long and heavy icicles cannot hang onto your roof without being attached to an ice dam.

Other signs of an ice dam may include sagging gutters, water damage on ceilings, and wet insulation in your attic. All problems that grow in cost the longer they are ignored.

How Do I Remove An Ice Dam?

It might be tempting to hack away at the icicles or use ice melters to remove an ice dam – but this is asking for more trouble.

The icicles are a byproduct of the ice dam, and removing them increases the risk of damaging the shingles and gutters on your home or residential business.

Plus, ice melters are highly corrosive and can damage your shingles and downspouts – again, not fixing the actual issue.

Unless you are a professional, do not attempt to remove an ice dam yourself. You must get to the root of the problem to deal with, and ensure it won’t come back later in the season or next.

How Do I Prevent An Ice Dam?

First, by ensuring your home or residential building is up to code. If you’re not sure, consider this:

The International Building Code requires the installation of ice barriers on buildings where ice formation along the eaves causes water backup.

The ice barrier must extend at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line and contain at least two layers of “underlayment cemented together or a self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen sheet.”

Furthermore, the National Roofing Contractors Association recommends these protection members in locations where the average temperature in January is 30F or lower.

HKC Roofing Can Help

When you need a new roof installed or a roofing repair, you need a company that understands your concerns. Our dedicated team can handle your residential, commercial, historic restoration, and residential gutter needs.

We have an A+ Rating from the Better Business Bureau and are part of the National Roofing Contractors Association, serving our Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area neighbors.

Request an estimate on our website or by calling 513-371-1841 to speak to a team member. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram for more information and to stay up-to-date on the latest news.