Monday, December 28, 2015

What are ice dams on roofs caused by?

Ice dams are formed when heat from the inside of a home escapes into the attic and warms the roof decking during the winter. This heat, combined with heat from the sun, can melt snow on the roof. Melting snow on the upper roof and in the valleys then runs down toward the eaves as water. When it reaches the cold eaves and gutters it refreezes. The continual thaw and re-freeze process creates ice dams.  
The result is water backing up under the roof shingles or behind fascia boards where it can soak through the roof decking or wall sheathing, causing damage to attics, ceilings and walls. Quinn's Construction is an expert on roofing installations and repairs and can remove the snow on your roof or unclog an ice dam.
Simply put: here are four things that might be the cause of an ice dam roof problem:
  • Installation 
  • Insulation
  • Ventilation 
  • Design
Removing the ice dam is the first step in relieving the roof leak problem you might be experiencing. The source of the problem needs to be found and the correct solution applied so that it won't happen again. Damage from ice dams and leaking roofs are not to be minimized. They can cause extensive damage to the inside of homes and repair may be extremely costly. A qualified, certified, licensed roofing contractor will be able to remove the ice dam, research the cause of the problem, offer recommendations, and implement the repair. Quinn's Construction is ready to help if you experience an ice dam problem during the upcoming winter months this season.  (978) 957-1200
 
Here's an interesting factoid about snow and its effect on your roof:
 
For every 10 foot by 10 foot section of roof with a foot of snow, you have an extra 2,000 lbs of weight. With an average roof of 1400 square feet, and only one foot of wet snow, you now have 28,000 lbs (14 ton) of weight.

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