Ice Dams on new construction ?
opaone
4 years ago
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ILoveRed
4 years agoMark Bischak, Architect
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoRelated Discussions
ice dam problem
Comments (5)We had ice dams this winter, too, and we have 6' of membrane under our shingles! We think the water was going between the gutter & facia board, then running into the window & leaking. It all melted in 1 day so we dind't have to do anything other than DH getting on the ladder & pounding the ice with a hammer, but I did read online that you can fill pantyhose with calcium chloride and lay them on top of the ice in the gutters, and it will melt the ice. If it happens again we will do that. We have a Cape Cod style house and they are bad for ice dams. Could it be the style of your house? Do a google search on "ice dam removal" and you'll find a ton of ways to remove - but a lot of the cites mention the panty hose & calcium chloride so it must work....See MoreJust had insulation installed should I still be getting ice dams?
Comments (15)FWIW: The Grace Ice and Water Shield high snow area detail shows a strip of ice and water shield membrane wrapping past the edge of the roof and onto the vertical fascia board. The upper leading edge of the this strip is then stripped in again to tie to the i &w s membrane on the roof. The memberane should extend a minimum of 6 ft beyond the plane of the wall below the soffit. So for example, if it's 3 ft from the edge of the roof to the wall, then you should put at least 9 ft of ice and water shield on the roof. I have a realtively low pitched roof here in MA on my modest raised ranch-style house. I had a terrble ice dam problem especially at the bow window where the trim at the head of the window continued vertically up into the soffit making this "heated" space under the roof. When I re-roofed I had the contractor cover the enitre roof with ice and water shield.. I have not had any leakage since. Sometimes ice will form and there is likely a dam, but as long as the water stays out of the interior spaces. It doesn't bother me....See MoreIce dams on roof in winter
Comments (1)Add the baffles at the eaves to allow proper ventilation and then remove any insulation that is grody. Then you can just roll out new batts on top of what's there. Or, you can blow in loose cellulose or fiberglass. Most places rent the blowers fairly cheaply or free if you buy the insulation from them. It's messy, but it's well within the skillset of any DIYer....See MoreGetting ice dams after polyurethane insulation, is it normal?
Comments (8)I have no opinion on your installation there - but I would not call call those ice dams. As klem1 put it up above, sun will heat up snow, some will flow down roof to edges, and icicles form as water drips down. Normal when conditions are right. Will happen at overhangs and corners. I would worry about ice dams/collections where blocks of ice are forming in either very large amounts and/or over 'house footprint' (over the parts of the roof that should be barriers to heat getting through). The main difference being that it should not be the heat from the house that's doing the melting, but the air/sun/environment, and the roof evenly cold in most places (except for sun/shade differences). Note in the real world there's probably always some heat from below getting up, but should be only a bit...See MoreSeabornman
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