Understanding ice damming is an important thing for a Colorado homeowner.
Ice damming can often accompany a heavy spring snow like the one Northern Colorado has just had. Understanding how they occur and what you can do to best protect your home is important knowledge for a Colorado homeowner.
As seen in the image below, ice dams form as snow melts over the heated portion of your home but stays put over the unheated exterior portion of the home (soffit). As the snow and ice stay put over the soffit, the water melting from the heated portion a bit farther up the roof can lead to water intrusion. This water is often noticed in the corner where the ceiling and wall meet on the interior of your home. Ice dams are common in areas where snow sits for extended periods of time such as a North facing roofline.
Understanding ice damming and protecting yourself from ice dam damages can be as simple as purchasing a heat tape like this and applying it to the area where snow and ice build up is common. Having this on your roof prior to a big storm allows you to plug in the heat tape after a storm and assist with the melt off of the unheated portion of your roof, thus avoiding an ice dam from occurring. If you’re noticing an area of snow build up as this storm melts, take note of these areas so you can protect yourself better for the next storm.
When you find yourself needing a roof replaced, contact Roof Link for a roof inspection. We would be happy to discuss ways to best protect your home from not only Colorado’s notorious wind and hail storms, but also understanding ice damming and how to protect your home from it. Often, applying ice and water shield to the areas of concern during the installation of your new roofing surface is all that would be needed to best protect your home.
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