Ice Dams on Roofs Can Be Damaging
Here in Nashville they are talking about the Polar Vortex coming back this week and it looks like it will be here for a while. It puts a damper on the tease of Spring-like weather we had over the weekend. Fortunately though we have not had that much snow accumulation but have had some freezing temperatures. When it freezes we know what that could mean for some of us, ice. The cold and ice have not been fun for our employees and we have been challenged by Mother Nature’s weather. We have missed many days of work due to the freezing temperatures with either ice buildup or rain to tear off and replace a roof or any roof repairs. Add to that any new construction we have on the books have a lot of General Contractors waiting the storms out.
One of the roof problems we are finding is ice damming.
Ice damming can cause some serious problems to your roof. For example, the eave overhangs from your Tile, Slate, Shake or Shingle roof can accumulate ice in the soffit and can make your roof vulnerable for leaks. We also find this happening in roof valleys.
In Middle Tennessee we don’t see a large, if any, snow accumulation. East Tennessee and Kentucky do have its share of snow and is very prone to ice damming. To better understand ice damming – it is the result of snow not melting fast enough from a previous snow so when the “new” snow begins to melt and the water from that melt begins to run down the slope of your roof line it has nowhere to go, thus the ice begins to dam blocking the runoff. Therefore, refreezing and beginning the process all over again before the next snow.
At RBD we recommend a type of roof underlayment called ice and water shield. This underlayment material is made with a rubberized asphalt mixture which helps the ice and snow from accumulating and freezing from the moisture of the snow or rain unlike a traditional felt underlayment. We have installed ice and water shield in roof valleys and eaves and even the entire home as some of our Builders request it. We also find that not just in East Tennessee but in Middle Tennessee, such as Nashville, not only does ice and water shield installation stop leaks caused by ice dams, but it also stops leaks created by fierce wind-driven rain which we are familiar with here as Tornado season comes upon us.
This is something you may consider for your roof. It does cost a little more for the ice and water shield but such as in life any added benefit costs to avoid costly mistakes. Maybe next winter it won’t be so cold and freezing, but I guess we won’t know until then.
Let RBD help you in your roof decisions. We would love to answer any questions you may have. Give us a call at 615-452-0161 or Contact us.
