Ice Dams: A Winter Danger For Kansas City Homes

Frozen icicles hanging from your roofline and gutters may look festive, but can be a sign of one of winter's biggest threats to your home: ice dams.

Ice dams are the result of melting snow continually refreezing at the roof perimeter, causing ice to collect into "dams" that line eaves, overflow gutters, and fill the valleys in your roof. With nowhere to go, fresh thaws can back up under the shingles and underlayment of your roof, leak into your home, and damage attics, walls, ceilings, insulation and more.

What Causes Ice Dams?

Ice dams are created when above-freezing attic temperatures and sunlight combine to melt snow and ice on your roof. As the runoff reaches the colder edges of your roof, it refreezes, causing a growing bank of ice. Subsequent cycles of thawing and freezing quickly create an ice dam.

The right weather condition for ice dams is usually when outside temperatures are in the low 20s for several days with several inches of snow on the roof.

Preventing Ice Dam Damage To Your Home

Bordner Installation Group takes a three-step approach to protecting your home from damage caused by ice dams.

Step 1: Insulating your attic

Proper attic insulation is an important part of preventing attic heat from melting snow and ice on your roof. Attic insulation with a high enough R-value (R-38 for most of the Kansas City region) minimizes heat escape from your living area, and can dramatically reduce energy cost as well.

Step 2: Creating proper ventilation

Research shows keeping the attic air temperature below freezing when the outside temperature is in the low 20s can reduce the occurrence of ice dams. Proper roof ventilation used in conjunction with insulation can create a Cold Roof Assembly, which will help eliminate ice dams. Ventilating your house correctly also prevents moisture buildup that can cause mold, mildew and wood rot.

Step 3: Water-proofing your roof

For new roofs or re-roofing projects, Bordner recommends installing a waterproof shingle underlayment as a last defense against backed-up water entering your home. A water-resistant barrier is especially important to use along eaves, roof pitches and valleys, and at any roof penetrations, such as a chimney or skylight.

Ready to protect your home from ice dams?

Bordner Installation is ready to help you ice-dam-proof your home. Contact us online for a free consultation or estimate, or call us at 816-358-2102.