Ice Dam Removal and Prevention. It’s a Central Oregon must.
WHAT IS AN ICE DAM
Ice dams are most common in northern climates. They occur when heavy snow buildup melts during the day and then refreezes when temperatures drop overnight. After several days of melting-freezing cycles, it’s common for the melted water and ice to work up under the shingles until water enters the attic and eventually does damage to the ceilings, walls and contents. In cases where the ice dam goes unnoticed for an extended period of time, it can do significant damage to the building and its contents.
CAN YOU PREVENT AN ICE DAM
There’s no way to guarantee an ice dam won’t damage your home, but you can take steps to cut the chances of an ice dam forming in the first place:
If you haven’t already, thoroughly clean all leaves, sticks and other debris from your home’s gutters and down spouts. This allows melting roof snow to flow into gutters and through down spouts.
Installing De-Icing Cables. De-icing cables are designed for use primarily with the most common roofing material—asphalt shingles. Give Greenlee Roofing a call for a complimentary proposal!
Make every effort to keep snow on your roof to a minimum. Long-handled devices on the market called “roof rakes” let you stand on the ground and pull the snow off the roof. Keeping heavy snow loads off your roof reduces the chances of both ice dam formation and roof failure due to the weight. When in doubt, call Greenlee Roofing for assistance with roof snow removal services.
All winter long, keep gutters and downspouts clear of snow and icicles.
Evaluate the insulation and ventilation in your attic. Most experts agree the R-value of attic insulation should be at least R-30 (R-38 is preferable in northern climates). In addition, good airflow from under the eaves or soffit area along the underside of the roof and out through the roof vents is essential. The insulation prevents heat loss from the interior of the home. The venting allows the attic air to stay cold enough to prevent or minimize the freeze/thaw cycle on the roof. Call Greenlee Roofing for a complimentary assessment of your attic airflow for potential improvements.
If your home or business has a roof ice dam, contact Greenlee as soon as possible. It’s essential to eliminate the ice dam before it starts to do severe damage. Our trained professionals will provide you with an accurate estimate and complete the job in a timely and professional manner.
Among our many methods, Greenlee Roofing recommends using low-pressure steam when removing ice dams. The hot steaming process is the safest and most efficient way to eliminate ice dams without damaging the surrounding roof or gutters.
Depending on the size and amount of ice dams, we typically can remove ice dams in a few hours.
