What is Ice Damming & How to Counter it

January 20, 2019

The experts at Packs Hardware want you to keep your home secure and warm this winter in Smithville. Icicles look enchanting hanging from your gutters, but they're also among your home’s worst advarsaries. During the milder parts of the day, ice can melt and pool behind hanging icicles on your roof. These ice dams can create serious issues for your home and roof, causing water to recess back up under your shingles. Eventually, that water can leak through your ceiling, causing damage to the roof and interior walls.

Some things to help prevent:

1. Adhesive Ice & Water Barrier

An adhesive ice-and-water barrier is a type of self-sealing underlayment that sticks to the roof decking and waterproofs it. You then place tiles over the top of it. It’s required by building code in most regions. Adding the ice-and-water barrier is an pricey project if you have to tear up an otherwise sound roof, but it’s cost-effective insurance when you have to re-roof. Ask your local building inspector how far the adhesive would have to be installed in your region.

2. Install Heated Roof Cables

Heated Roofing cables melt passageways for water to flow off the roof and prevent ice dams. Install heat cables when everything else has failed. Contact us at Packs Hardware if you have any questions.

3. Try Using a Roof Rake

Another ice dam prevention product is a snow rake. A snow rake is an aluminum scraper mounted at a right angle on a telescoping aluminum pole. Use the roof rake to clean the snow off your roof so it cannot form up an ice dam. This is one of the quickest solutions for occasional heavy snows. However, a roof rake is only effective for single-story homes. Never use a snow rake while on a ladder. Also be careful to not break the shingles. Due to the cold weather, the roof shingles are more brittle in the cold.

4. It’s Always Better to Have it and not Need it, Than to Need it and Not Have It.

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Be sure to keep all the necessary tools on-hand for any DIY project to prevent an even worse ice dam headache — you’ll save lots of time and frustration by getting them early before a winter storms hit. In the off chance you do need something during the storm…know we are here in Smithville to help you prevent that ice dam.

Here’s what we recommend to become project ready:

Air compressor

Air hose

Dust mask
Extension ladder

Flashlight
Hammer

Pry bar
Roof harness
Utility knife

Caulk
Expanding foam

· Heat cables
· Ice and water barrier
· Insulation
· Roof Vent
· Soffit Vent

5. Proper Insulation and Venting in the Attic

· Secure attic bypasses

· Check your attic’s insulation levels

· Install roof and soffit vents

Additional Ice Melting Tips!

If the temperature is 5° F or warmer, regular rock salt is as good as anything. Salt lowers the freezing point of water to this temperature.

Below 5° F, opt for a salt blend. Look for a product containing calcium chloride, which can melt ice in temperatures as low as -25° F.

So…stop by Packs Hardware in Smithville for all of the tools, winter items, ice melt, shovels, insulation, heating cables and more! Ask for an associate to show you just where to find everything to get you on the right track.

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