ICE DAM REMOVAL / ROOF SNOW REMOVAL

An ice dam is an ice build-up on the eaves of sloped roofs of heated buildings that results from melting snow under a snow pack reaching the eave and freezing there. Freezing at the eave impedes the drainage of meltwater, which adds to the ice dam and causes backup of the meltwater in a manner, which may cause water leakage into the roof and consequent damage to the building and its contents if the water leaks through the roof. Saint Paul roof snow removal ice dam removal

When it comes to removing ice dams safely, there is only one solution: STEAM! Our steamers will melt the ice on your roof without harming your roof system. Other techniques have the potential to cause serious damage. Pressure washers will usually blast the granules off the asphalt mat of the shingles on your roof. Tools like axes, picks, and hammers will only cause more damage to your roof. Certain salts, if applied to your roof, are corrosive and can also leave behind damaged gutters, grass, and plants. 

If you want to avoid having to deal with ice dams, then we highly recommend roof snow removal. Not only will this decrease the likelihood of the snow freezing up and creating a dam, but snow removal will also lessen the stress on your roof that comes from heavy snow loads. 

The most effective long-term solutions for ice dams are to keep heat out of the attic and to promote ventilation under the roof deck to keep it as cold as possible. The underside of the roof deck must be close to the temperature of the exterior side of the roof.

Ideally, ventilation provides for continuous airflow from the soffit (the underside of the roof eaves) to the peak, or ridge, of the roof. A soffit-and-ridge vent system usually requires insulation baffles installed at the lower side of the roof, above the exterior walls. The baffles hold back the insulation by a couple of inches, creating a channel for air to flow freely past the insulation. Without them, thick insulation can block the air coming in through the soffit vents, eliminating airflow.

If a soffit-and-ridge system is not feasible or desirable, ventilation can be provided with soffit or gable vents for intake air and several conventional roof vents for exhaust air. As a general guideline, ventilation systems should provide 1 square foot of net free ventilation per 150 square feet of attic floor space. Net free ventilation is the total area of openings in a vent, minus all screening or other obstructions.  The photo below illustrates what an improperly insulated and or an improperly ventilated building  will typically look like.  If possible, make every effort that the necessary steps are taken in regards to  ice dam prevention when installing a new roof.