How to Prevent Ice Dams on Your Roof
Ice dams form when melting snow on your roof refreezes at the eaves and causes water to get trapped under shingles. You can avoid issues like leaks and mold by taking a few preventative measures, such as maintaining your gutters, improving your attic insulation, and installing snow guards. For the most effective how to prevent ice dams on your roof, seek the help of roofing professionals.
Ice dams are a common roofing issue that many homeowners experience during the cold, wintry months. They can cause significant damage to both the roof and the interior of the home if you are not proactive.
This article explores the best way to prevent ice dams on your roof, including the role of metal roofs and the importance of installing snow guards.
What Causes Ice Dams?
To fully understand the need for ice dam prevention, you have to understand what an ice dam is in the first place— especially how they are formed.
When you have snow on your roof, the heat from the attic can cause it to melt, allowing the water to run down to the eaves. As it reaches these cold edges of the roof, it refreezes and creates a dam of ice. This can hold water captive under your shingles, leading to future problems.
If not addressed, ice dams can cause leaks, wood rot, and even mold.
The factors that contribute to this phenomenon are:
- Poor insulation that allows the warm air from your attic to leak out and melt the snow
- Roofs with little to no slopes leave snow with nowhere to go when it melts
- Clogged gutters that won’t let water properly drain
- Fluctuating temperatures – warmer days and freezing nights – can exacerbate the process
Avoiding these things can help you to prevent ice dams. Here’s what you need to know to make it happen.
Preventing Ice Dams
The best way to prevent ice dams is to take a multi-faceted approach. This is because there is always more than one factor at play when it comes to creating them.
Increase the Insulation
If the warmth in your attic is what initiates ice dams by causing the snow to melt, then keeping it cold is a viable solution. You can do this by focusing on keeping your living space warm and your attic cold.
Add insulation, seal any gaps, and ensure your attic has enough airflow through vents to keep it cold.
Maintain Gutters and Downspouts
When melted snow cannot freely flow through gutters, the water will back up at the eaves and an ice dam can form. As a preventative measure, regularly have your gutters and downspouts maintained. This will ensure that they are free and clear of any buildup of debris so that water can flow freely as it is directed away from your home.
Have the Right Roof Slope
Having no slope or a low slope can lead to poor drainage issues. When the snow melts it may not have any momentum to move toward the gutters. Since changing your roof’s slope isn’t something you can do at the moment, you can be sure to keep it free from debris.
Installing Snow Guards
Snow guards work to spread out the snow rather than letting it pile high. That way, when the sun does come out it can melt more quickly and be on its way. Of course, this system also protects gutters, spouts, shrubs, flowerbeds, people, and pets from falling icicles, debris dumps, and falling snow.
What’s more, a snow guard system will keep you from having to climb on your roof to remove heavy snowfalls—- a seriously dangerous task.
Metal Roofs and Snow Guards for Ice Dam Prevention
Metal roofs are growing significantly in popularity. They may be aesthetically pleasing, but they are also a great resource to have during winter and snowy months. What makes them the ideal roof in areas like Virginia?
Their smooth surface allows snow and water to just slide off, leading to less buildup. And, because they reflect the sun’s rays, they remain colder. Metal roofs are a long-lasting, durable solution — and resource for ice dam prevention.
The Need For Professional Snow Guard Installation
There are certain things you can do yourself as a homeowner, but installing snow guards is not one of them. Instead, you need to leave this up to the professionals for a few reasons.
Proper Placement. For your snow guard system to work optimally, it is necessary to have them placed in specific locations that will be most effective. Because every house is different, this is not a cut-and-dry installation, but one that needs to be customized for your home.
Professionals have the knowledge and skills to determine the best place for the guards so that they are most effective and beneficial to you.
Maintain the Utmost Safety. There is no denying the fact that handling roofing projects is a risky job — especially if you are not properly trained. Getting up on your roof regardless of how steep, to try to install new equipment is a risk. Leave it to the professionals.
High-Quality Materials. Roofers know that your snow guard system is only as good as the materials used to make it. They will recommend a solution that is durable, effective, and able to stand up against harsh winter conditions time and time again.
Roof Snow Guard Systems From Piedmont Roofing
Piedmont Roofing can assess your needs and help you protect your roof —and ultimately your home — from heavy snowfall. This is done without sacrificing the aesthetic appearance of your property.
So, whether it’s a metal roof, a snow guard system, or both, the professional roofers have you covered. Literally.
See why Virginia residents in Clarke, Culpeper, Greene, Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford, and surrounding areas trust the team at Piedmont Roofing. Check out their expert residential and metal roofing services.
Schedule your consultation today.
Conclusion
If you want to protect your home from costly and damaging repairs during the winter months, then you need to know how to prevent ice dams. Improving attic insulation, maintaining proper ventilation, and keeping your gutters clear can greatly lower the risks. However, take it to the next level with the addition of a metal roof or a snow guard system. Both will effectively prevent ice dams for years to come.