An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms along the edge of your roof. It blocks melting snow from draining off. The water backs up under the shingles and can leak into your walls and ceilings.
Colorado's sunny winter days and freezing nights make ice dams common here, even on newer homes.
How Ice Dams Form
- Heat from your home leaks into the attic and warms the roof deck.
- Snow on the warm part of the roof melts, even when it's below freezing outside.
- The water runs down to the eaves, which hang past the warm walls and stay cold.
- The water refreezes at the edge and builds a ridge of ice.
- More melt water pools behind the ice and works its way under the shingles.
The root cause is almost always a warm attic, not the roof itself.
Signs You Have a Problem
- Thick ice along the roof edge or in the gutters
- Large icicles, especially with water dripping behind them
- Water stains or peeling paint on ceilings near exterior walls
- Damp insulation in the attic
- Stains on the siding below the eaves
What to Do If You Have an Ice Dam Now
- Don't chip at the ice with a hammer or shovel. You'll damage shingles and gutters.
- Use a roof rake from the ground to pull snow off the first few feet of roof. Less snow means less melt water.
- Stay off the roof. Icy roofs are dangerous.
- Call a roofer if water is coming in. Professionals can safely steam ice off without damaging the roof.
How to Prevent Ice Dams
The fix is keeping the roof deck cold, so snow doesn't melt unevenly.
- Seal air leaks. Gaps around light fixtures, attic hatches, and pipes let warm air into the attic.
- Add insulation. A well-insulated attic floor keeps heat in your living space.
- Improve ventilation. Soffit vents pull in cold air and ridge vents let it out, keeping the roof deck cold.
- Install ice and water barrier. This rubberized underlayment seals around nails and stops water that gets under the shingles. Every Condor roof includes Ice & Water Shield along the eaves and in the valleys.
- Keep gutters clear before winter so melt water can drain.
Heat cables can help in trouble spots, but they treat the symptom, not the cause.
Stop Ice Dams Before They Start
We can check your attic ventilation, insulation, and roof edges and tell you what's causing the problem. Call 303-900-2184.