TYPICAL ICE DAMS
ICE DAMS
ICE DAMS ARE CAUSED BY THE ACCUMULATION OF
HEAVY  SNOW ON THE ROOF SURFACE. THERE ARE
TWO FORCES AT WORK THAT CAUSE ICE DAMS. THE
INSIDE HEAT OF YOUR HOUSE IS TRYING TO RISE AND
BECOMES TRAPPED IN THE ATTIC SPACE HEATING
THE ROOF BOARDS AND SHINGLES. THE
TEMPERATURE OF THE OUTSIDE AIR IS KEEPING THE
SNOW FROM MELTING WHEN BELOW FREEZING.
 
WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE CAN NOT
OFFSET THE HEAT OF THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE
THE SNOW BEGINS TO MELT. BECAUSE HEAT RISES,  
THE HIGHER YOU GO IN YOUR ATTIC THE HOTTER IT
GETS AND THE LOWER YOU GO THE COOLER IT
GETS.  AND AS THE SNOW MELTS AND THE WATER
RUNS DOWN THE ROOF IT COOLS DOWN AND
BEGINS TO RE-FREEZE. AS MORE AND MORE WATER
TRIES TO MAKE IT DOWN THE SLOPE IT IS TRAPPED
AS IT REACHES THE FROZEN ICE THAT IS NOW
FORMING AT THE COLDEST PORTION OF THE HOUSE
(USUALLY ONE TO THREE FEET ABOVE THE
GUTTER). AS THE DAYS PASS AND THE PROCESS
CONTINUES THE ICE DAM INCREASES IN SIZE
CREATING A BOWL. IF THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE
OVER POWERS THE OUTSIDE INCREASING THE FLOW
OF WATER THE BOWL WILL THEN FILL UP WITH
WATER. THE LARGER THE DAM THE MORE WATER
IT WILL HOLD ALLOWING WATER TO PENETRATE  
YOUR ROOFING MATERIAL. ICE SHIELD IN OUR
EXPERIENCE MAKES LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN THE
PERFORMANCE OF A ROOF WHEN ICE DAMS ARE
PRESENT.
( EVERY NAIL AND OR STAPLE THAT
PENETRATES THE ICE SHIELD MATERIAL IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR WATER TO ENTER YOUR HOME)
.
HEAT TAPE IS IN MOST CASES NOT EFFECTIVE
BECAUSE IT ONLY HEATS THE IMMEDIATE AREA
THAT IT IS LAID.
(IN OUR EXPERIENCE YOU WOULD
HAVE TO COVER EVERY SQUARE INCH OF YOU ROOF
TO GENERATE AND SUSTAIN ENOUGH HEAT TO BE
EFFECTIVE IN THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE
CONDUCIVE TO THE MAKING OF ICE DAMS)
THE USE
OF ICE MELTING CHEMICALS CAUSE MORE DAMAGE
THAN DOING NOTHING AT ALL.  THESE TYPES OF
PRODUCTS ARE  DAMAGING NOT ONLY TO YOUR
ROOFING MATERIALS AND GUTTER, IT CAN KILL
ANY LANDSCAPING PLANTS THAT IT COMES IN
CONTACT WITH.  ALTHOUGH THE GUTTER AND
ROOFING INDUSTRY WOULD BENEFIT FROM
CHOPPING THE ICE FROM YOUR ROOF AND
GUTTERS THIS ALSO CAUSES MORE DAMAGE THAN
DOING NOTHING AT ALL.  HACKING HOLES IN YOUR
GUTTERS AND SHINGLES CAN CAUSE HUNDREDS
AND POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN
DAMAGE. USING A WATER HOSE TO MELT THE ICE
IS THE BEST WAY TO REMOVE IT WHEN DAMS HAVE
ALREADY FORMED.  IN OUR OPINION THE ONLY
EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF ICE
DAMS IS TO REMOVE THE SNOW FROM YOUR ROOF.
HEAT LOSS
   ROYAL OAK                                        TROY                                         ROCHESTER                               WARREN
   248-546-2131                                   248-828-7998                                    248-608-8568                              586-323-0755
ICE DAMS
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