How Ice Dams Ruin Your Roof

Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home. When it functions properly, it provides great protection from the elements. A damaged, roof, though, can let weather get a foot hold. Eventually, your roof will begin to leak. Even worse, damaged roofs can collapse, destroying other parts of your home. Ice is notorious for causing roof damage. And, because freezing water builds upon existing ice, damage caused by dams can affect virtually every part of your roofing system.  You might be wondering about ice dams and roof damage:  does water flow uphill?

To fully understand just how damaging an ice dam be, you must first know how ice dams form. In the wintertime, snow accumulates on your roof. The bottom layers of snow warm up because of heat from your attic. Eventually, the bottom layers of snow melt and run toward the edge of your roof. There, the melted water refreezes causing a dam to form. The dam grows each time runoff washes into it and refreezes. Eventually, the ice dam becomes so large that it begins to creep back up toward the top of your roof. So, with ice dams and roof damage:  does water flow uphill?  While water doesn’t technically flow uphill, ice buildup can have the same effect.

Since dams prevent water from properly draining, they can wreak all sorts of havoc on your roofing system. Most significantly, water that continually refreezes on your room can seep into crevices and literally tear your roof apart. To deal with dams and protect your roof, there is a temporary and permanent solution. Removal of an ice dam can fix the issue for a day or two. But, for a long-term solution, you need to contract with a professional service to improve your system. This requires adding an ice melt system, installing attic insulation, repairing cracks, and venting your airspace. You might also need a new roof.

If you contract with a professional to permanently remedy your ice dam problem, you will never again to ask about ice dams and roof damage:  does water flow uphill?