We’ve just witnessed a major snowstorm battering the greater Washington DC, southern New Jersey, New York City, Connecticut, Boston, and much of the coastal north east. The resulting damage to some of the homes affected by the melting and refreezing snow and ice dams can easily cost thousands of dollars in repair, especially if the snow is allowed to remain on the affected roof for a long time. 🙁�
What Does an Ice Dam Damage Entail?
You’ll see gutters torn and damaged, shingles that are broken and falling off, and even paint that’s peeling. What you may not see is the underlying damage to the deck and in the attic including wet insulation, which can become moldy, damaged sheet-rock in the walls, and major wood and plaster rotting issues. As you can guess, preventing ice dams in the first place, or removing them as quickly as possible is essential for the well being of your property. 😉�
What Causes Ice Dams
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In order to know what preventive measures to take to protect your dwelling, it’s helpfult to understand how the ice dams form; When the snow falls onto your roof, it can melt when it comes into contact with warmer surfaces of the roof. This may happen when the warm air and heat escapes from your home through the attic floor and rises up to the peak of the roof, which is what causes the melting of the snow. When the melted water reaches the colder eaves of the roof, it refreezes forming a wall of ice, which blocks the runoff of the rest of melted snow. Thus, the melted water has no where to runoff but to rise up underneath the shingles, which is how it can get inside your home, damaging not only your shingles, but also causing major long-term damage. 🙁�
With so many ice melting and snow removal products on the market, here is a look at the top fifteen preventive measures:
Preventive Measures:
Pros: effective when installed correctly
Cons: doesn’t prevent ice dams, just creates a run-off for water
Blown-in Attic Insulation – Preventing heat loss in the attic to improve energy efficiency is only one reason to increase the amount of insulation you have. It also prevents ice dams. Blown-in insulation is the easiest method, and a straightforward process for DIY homeowners. You just have to purchase the insulation and rent a machine to blow it in. The cost depends on how much square footage you’re covering, but it averages around $700 to $800 for 1,000 square feet. If you choose to go this route, make sure you leave the soffit vents unblocked!
Pros: effective for preventing heat loss, inexpensive and easy to install
Cons: none
Ventilation Upgrade – Poor ventilation is the cause of many issues with heat loss and ice dams. Certain types of roofs are more susceptible to this problem, but it can be fixed with bringing your attic’s ventilation to an adequate level. The type of vent needed will depend on the exact situation, but you may need a ridge vent, if your roof has soffit vents, or soffit repairs for blocked soffit intakes. – This can sometimes be the unintentional result of poorly-done attic floor insulation. You’ll have to consult a professional to properly remedy any major attic ventilation issues. Expect to pay between $1500 and $2000 for a new ridge vent, or several hundred dollars to re-open the soffit vents if they are blocked.
Pros: permanent resolution
Cons: more expensive, must be done by a professional, only partially solves the problem
Ice Belt Metal Panels – Many roofs are made of shingles, which work well to remove water until it starts to travel upward. To take a more pro-active approach in preventing ice dams, you can install ice belt metal panels, which are installed along the eaves to block water. They are often made of aluminum and sold in short panels of about three to four feet in length. You would need to remove a few rows of shingles from the eaves of the roof in order to install the ice belt metal panels. The cost is about $45 to $70 per linear foot, installed. If you choose to go this route, it’s best to install them before you put a new roof on, but it can be done at any point as long as your asphalt roof is still in good shape.
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Pros: doesn’t require an electrician to install, no ongoing expenses
Cons: shouldn’t install on an older roof until it’s replaced
Metal Roof – Solve all of your ice dam problems with a new metal roof. While this isn’t a cheap solution, it does offer long-term benefits. Metal tiles or shingle are an option along with the continuous standing seam panels. This option requires professional installation and will cost $10,000 or more, but it takes care of the issue for many years.
Pros: energy-efficient and cost-efficient, long-term solution, solves the problem of ice dams
Cons: expensive, requires professional installation
Integrated Heating/Ice Melting Panels – This professional-grade product will last for a long time, but they are expensive to buy and install. They can add quite a bit to your monthly utility costs, because they are plugged into an electrical source. This solution is mainly for those homes which have not had much success with other methods or if you want a long-term system and you aren’t worried about ongoing costs. Pricing ranges widely because of the monthly electricity costs, so expect to spend thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the product. Average price is $20 or more per foot for these systems, plus the cost of installation. You may consider a system such as the one offered by to melt snow on roof edges, valleys and along the gutter and downspouts.
Pros: effective, protects the roof
Cons: expensive, requires professional installation and must be set on a timer or turned on to work
Caulk to Seal Air Leaks – A simple, but effective fix for some of your issues, caulk can be placed around vent pipes and electrical cables to prevent warm air from escaping. Another benefit is that this product is inexpensive, costing less than $5 a tube.
Pros: inexpensive, DIY project
Cons: only takes care of specific areas, must be reapplied
Chimney Flashing – Another vulnerable area for ice dams is around the chimney. Purchasing flashing to cover the area where the stones or bricks meet the roof will help prevent ice dams from forming. L-shaped flashing made of steel can be installed by a homeowner or a roofer. Expect to pay just a few hundred dollars if you hire a pro. Do it on your own, and costs will range from $20 to $350.
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Pros: inexpensive even if you go the route of hiring a professional
Cons: only takes care of water leaking in one area
Water Repellent Membrane / Ice and Water Shield – This product will not prevent ice dams from happening, but it will help minimize the damage by shielding the roof deck. When installing a new roof or replacing the old one, consider adding a water repellent membrane such as Ice and Water Shield underneath the shingles. This added layer prevents water from getting inside your home when the ice and snow melt. The cost of this membrane is added in to the total cost of installing a new roof, which can range from $5000 to $8000.
Pros: effective at preventing water damage
Cons: expensive, can only be installed with a new roof
Insulated Caps – Covering heat sources to prevent them from allowing heat into the attic can be an effective way to prevent ice dams. Some common concerns include the attic fan and openings for folding stairs. These items can cost less than $100 and are often something you can install yourself.
Pros: inexpensive, takes care of specific areas
Cons: will require other methods to resolve the entire problem of ice dams
Removal Options:
Removing ice dams as quickly as possible after they have formed is your second best option to prevent long-term damage. Here are some of the top products to help with this process.
Industrial Pressure Washer – A steam pressure washer with a low psi can remove ice dams quickly before they have time to do damage. With a variety of pressure washers on the market, you have to find one that fits your needs and budget. They often power by electric and heat with propane. Expect to pay between $4,000 and $10,000 for one of these. You may also be able to rent one, but it’s often recommended to hire a professional to do the work to prevent damage to your roof.
Pros: removes ice dams quickly
Cons: expensive, often requires hiring a professional
Box Fan – As expensive as the last option, this is the cheapest solution to removing ice dams. Put a box fan in the attic pointing to the area where the water is coming in. Turn it on and allow the water to freeze again. This is only a temporary fix until you can make a more permanent repair. Cost is minimal with fans ranging from $20 to $50 for the basic models.
Pros: inexpensive and a quick fix
Cons: only a temporary resolution
Calcium Chloride – Purchase this product and pour some of it into a netted bag (an old pair of pantyhose is a good DIY fix). Place the bag of chemical on the roof across the ice dam and the gutter. As it melts the snow, will allow the water to run off. Cost for this is minimal, about $5 per bag.
Pros: DIY project, inexpensive
Cons: must be redone every time there is a large snow
Other Chemical Compounds – While calcium chloride may be the best known, other compounds also help melt snow off the roof. Select from sodium chloride, magnesium chloride and even rock salt to help melt ice and snow. Be aware of the risks associated with the different chemicals, such as roof discoloration or corrosion to aluminum gutters. Talk to a professional about which products are safe based on your roof type. Cost ranges from $5 a bag to $20.
Pros: another easy ice removal measure you can do yourself
Cons: like the calcium chloride it must be redone after each snowstorm
Needless to say, it’s best to prevent the problem in the first place. 😉� However, it’s also helpful to know what to do when you have to deal with a situation requiring a timely removal of ice dams to avoid costly damage. Consider before the situation occurs.
Helpful Resources:
– Ice Dam Prevention and Removal Methods, plus information on how to file an insurance claim when your home suffers damage caused by ice dams.
– Basic overview of suitable products.
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