Tips for Dealing with and Preventing an Ice Dam

Hail, fallen tree limbs and high winds are just a few of nature’s forces that your roof has to combat throughout the year. While all of these factors pose a significant threat to your roof, they pale in comparison to the damage that can be caused by an ice dam.

Ice damming can stump even the best roofing contractors in Traverse City, MI when it comes to assessing damage and making repairs. Below, we’ll cover everything you need to know about ice dams and how they can be prevented this winter.

What Causes Ice Dams?

Ice dams are formed when snow melts on a roof and starts to flow downward. While the melted snow stays in liquid form during the day, it will re-freeze overnight when the temperatures drop again. This new block of ice, which typically forms near the edge of the roof above the gutters, prevents any more melted snow from dripping off the roof.

Over time, the ice dam grows larger and larger. It can even build up under the shingles, where it damages the underlayment of the roof. The worst part is, even the best roofing contractors in Traverse City, MI can’t do anything to fix the shingles or underlayment in the winter because of the dams and hazardous conditions.

Preventing an Ice Dam

Fortunately, preventing ice dams and subsequent damage is easier than you think. Here are a few tips to keep your roof safe this winter:

• Remove snow: If there isn’t any snow on your roof, there isn’t a chance an ice dam could form. While it’d be impossible to keep snow off your roof throughout the entire winter, we recommend knocking as much snow off as possible after a heavy storm. Talk to your roofer about investing in a roof rake that makes snow removal easy.
• Add attic insulation: Ice dams often form when some parts of a roof are warmer than others. Obviously, snow located on warmer parts of the roof will melt faster and flow quicker than snow on colder parts. You can do wonders to keep your roof at an even temperature by adding insulation up in your attic. More insulation will prevent heat transfer that causes those dastardly ice dams.
• Call a professional: You can also help keep your attic cool and your roof at an even temperature by increasing the attic’s ventilation. The best way to improve ventilation is to install attic and soffit vents. A professional roofer can install new attic vents in a matter of hours, which will keep your roof nice and cool all winter long.

Hire Our Team For All of Your Roofing Needs

Call our pros at Qualified Roofing the next time you need any roofing work completed. Our wide range of services and years of experience make us the best roofing contractors in Traverse City, MI. What’s more, we’re now offering a five to seven percent discount on our roofing services for flexible scheduling in April and May! So, if you don’t mind waiting a bit for your roofing work, you’ll save big bucks.

Categorised in: Roof Maintenance