Ice Dams On Roof Eaves

Meltwater from the warm roof backs up behind it flows under the shingles and into the house.

Ice dams on roof eaves.

But winter is coming and along with it one of your home s worst enemies ice dams. Meltwater from the warm roof backs up behind it flows under the shingles and into the house. Severe ice dams can weigh many hundreds of pounds compromising the structure of the roof eaves. What damage do ice dams cause.

An ice dam is an ice build up on the eaves of sloped roofs of heated buildings that results from melting snow under a snow pack reaching the eave and freezing there. Attached with clips along the roof s edge in a zigzag pattern heated. While frozen they re no more trouble than the icicles that hang down. If snow and ice build up high enough in the gutter it can provide a foundation for an ice dam.

Gutters at the eaves can also trap snow and ice. Freezing at the eave impedes the drainage of meltwater which adds to the ice dam and causes backup of the meltwater which may cause water leakage into the roof and consequent damage to the building and its contents if the water. Finally ice accumulates along the eaves forming a dam. Now that you know how ice dams form here s a quick and easy way to prevent them.

Birth of an ice dam. Ice dams form when warm air from inside your home melts snow on the roof. Heat collects in the attic and warms the roof except at the eaves. Ice accumulates along the eaves forming a dam.

More critically ice dams can cause meltwater to back up under the shingles where it can flow down and ruin ceiling and wall surfaces. The flatter the pitch of the roof the easier it is for an ice dam to get a grip. Snow melts on the warm roof and then freezes on the cold eaves. If ignored ice dams can cause serious damage to your roof.

Ice dams are continuous chunks of ice that form along the margins of your roof. When an ice dam gets big enough melted water backs up behind it and seeps underneath.