Ice Dams and their Hidden Damage

2/4/2022 (Permalink)

Storms in New England can lead to Ice Dams...

Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester By-The-Sea residents: make SERVPRO of Beverly/Cape Ann your winter storm damage restoration company! Call us at (978) 927-8665

Ice Dams form when snow or ice accumulates on the surface of your roof, causing a “dam” at the edge of an in-insulated part of a roof, such as an overhang or eve. As the heating system heats the home and attic space throughout the day, snow and ice begin to melt from the heated areas and drips off the roof.

Though beautiful, icicles form and begin to build up ice on the edge of the uninsulated part of the roof. Beneath this top layer, water runs down into the gutter, refreezes, and then continues, over time, to cause a large amount of ice buildup over the top of the gutter. Water then starts to pool on your roof and seep back under your shingles, metal roofing or any other roofing system. 

As the ice melts again, it seeps into your attic and eventually comes through areas of the structure, resulting in water damage. This can cause damage to drywall, insulation, and framing materials. It can also be an incubation point for mold inside the wall cavity or external walls, ceiling, and even the attic. It can even potentially cause dry rot to the framing materials and reduce the structural integrity of the structure. It can also result in wet building materials that can start to have a strong musty odor.

Ice dams can cause a large amount of damage to a commercial or residential structure. They can cause mold damage and even dry rot. If ice builds up too much it can even rip off rain gutters from the weight of the ice.

Here are a few easy preventative measures to reduce the potential for ice dams:

• Check the attic for proper insulation. 
• String waterproof electric heat tape through your gutters to keep them from freezing and building up with ice.
• Keep the snow off your roof. If snow is building up on your roof, get it shoveled off to eliminate the melting of the bottom layer.

If you have any questions about ice dams, water damage or mold feel free to Call SERVPRO of Beverly/Cape Ann at (978) 927-8665.