Wondering what are Ice Dams? Well, they are the result of the heat from the inside of the house that makes it way to the attic, warming the roof decking in the winter season. This heat along with the sun’s heat can melt the roof snow.

Snow melting on the rooftop and on the upper roof runs down on the eaves as the water. But when the water reaches the gutters and the eaves, it freezes again. The continuous process of refreezing builds ice dams. It would result in backing of water under the shingles of roof or making its way behind the boards of fascia. Just Google “roofing Lowell MA” for a roofer to help remove them.

It will then be soaked on the wall sheathing or the roof decking, causing damage to ceilings, attics, and walls.

Ice Dam Defense

The ice dams can be defended in four ways. They are

• Ventilation – Proper ventilation is important, in case an escaped heat have an easy flow out the attic.
• Insulation – It will help the chances of heat escape by a minimal level.
• Homeowner maintenance – proper care and maintenance should be done on a daily or weekly basis.
• Waterproofing shingle underlayment – it acts as the last defender from leaks.

All the above four ways, work together. The insulation helps to keep the heat from escaping to attic from your living area. The heat is removed by the ventilation by keeping the deck of the roof evenly cool by helping to prevent the snow melting.

Before the application of roof shingles, waterproofing shingle underlayment is placed over the roof. The final step is the homeowner maintenance. They should keep the ice and the snow clean from the roof so that it discourages the formation of ice dams.

The waterproofing shingle underlayment is the only given option if the existing shingles are being removed or an additional attachment is built. One can also increase the attic’s R-Value insulation, for the ventilation in the attic can be added easily.

Special Cases

New homes today feature vaulted or cathedral ceiling roofs and skylights. They both are a challenge for the insulation. So the manufacturers of insulation have come up with a design that performs high in insulation and is specially designed for ceilings that are cathedral. The R-Values provided are higher when compared to the fiberglass models.
When the talk is about skylight, the quality of workmanship is very crucial and attention to minute details is very important. It would help in preventing condensation and ice dams which often results in leakage problems. It is a smart step to apply waterproofing shingle underlayment around the opening of the skylight.

Warranty for Ice Dams

The manufacturers of shingle deny the warranty coverage leaks resulted by water backup at the back of the ice dams. It can be prevented easily by ventilating properly. Proper ventilation will help to lower the chances of formation of an ice dam. While the proper installation of waterproof shingles underlayment, it will protect the attic from leaks even after the formation of ice dam. It will be helpful in preventing the leaks caused by the wind derived rain.