Author Topic: Ice Dams on the House Roof  (Read 5224 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline David CVX-16

  • Donate members
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3731
Ice Dams on the House Roof
« on: December 30, 2010, 09:17:59 PM »
After reading in the Star Tribune about all the water damage to houses from ice dams on roofs, took a roof snow shovel today and cleared 3 feet of snow from the ends of the roof on the East and West sides. Then climbed a ladder onto the roof and shoveled, doing a better job than the roof snow shovel. Still a long ice dam on the ends of the roof. Went to Menards and they were out of RoofMelt. Then went to Home Depot, and they were out of the pucks (will get a shipment in Sat), but had a noncorrosive ice pellet product called Mags which I intend to sprinkle as soon as possible weather permitting.  

Anyone have a good product to remove the ice?

Wow what a winter so far between the snow, ice, and rain.
« Last Edit: December 31, 2010, 03:03:16 AM by David V-153 »
David
87' CVX-16, 85' 115 HP Johnson, 58.8 MPH GPS w/ 23" SRX Prop

Offline Hyperacme

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13464
Re: Ice Dams on the House Roof
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2010, 09:33:47 PM »
At least the rain took away a few inches of the snow today ...

Offline Speed Demon

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 24
Re: Ice Dams on the House Roof
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2010, 05:35:42 AM »
http://www.avalanche-snow.com/

I bought one of these last night.  The boss says it works just like the video on the website.  Going to put it together today and give it a try.  A company in Buffalo,MN makes them and it looks like more fun than work!
1984 CVX-16

Offline Rosscoe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4444
Re: Ice Dams on the House Roof
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2010, 08:37:54 AM »
Spring time works wonders on ice dams. :D
If this is a continual problem, you might want to consider those electric heat wires. My old house had them but I never used them because that wires were so old and scary. Too bad those kinds of things have to be up there and exposed to the sun year round. I wonder if there is some kind of temporary kind a guy could put up. Probably wouldnt work so well ON TOP of the ice.
David, long term you might want to take a look at your insulation/ventilation to make sure its adequate. Usually ice dams start because of escaping heat to the roof, melting the snow that then freezes when it gets out over the eve. Stop the melting (less heat escaping/more insulation, more ventilation to keep the attic as cold or near as cold as the outside) and you'll have little to no ice damming.
I once heard it described as an illustration that in a perfect world, a roof would be up off the house and 100% open on the sides. That gives you an idea of what you want up there. Cold air. Of course, the sun is going to still melt snow. Depends too on if you have a lighter color roof or if its dark. Be careful climbing around up there. Cold shingles are slippery! We dont want you falling off into a shrub or anything like that.
Ross
61 Surflite 1964 90HP Johnson project
67 V163 Bayflite Super Sport  1989 100HP Merc
67 V164 Bayflite 120HP
67 V174 Crestflite Rat Rod
71 V175 Crestflite 350ci -Jet
73 GT 160
84 CVX 17  83 115 Merc
88 CVX-23 350 Mag

Offline David CVX-16

  • Donate members
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3731
Re: Ice Dams on the House Roof
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2010, 04:41:52 PM »
The house was built in 1977 and has never had any water leakage from an ice dam, but there is a ledge of ice forming on the ends of the roof from the sun melting the snow that traps water and the ice dam is backing up. I shoveled 3 or 4 feet of snow off the roof ends, which exposed the ice. Today I sprinkled the "Mag salt pellets" on the ice and immediately water started dripping. Yes, I am very careful. Two years ago slipped on the sidewalk and landed on the shoulder. Has taken two years to get back to normal. On the roof, I walk only on the deep snow while shoveling the snow off the ends, wear shoes with spikes and am very careful climbing up and down the ladder. Will keep putting salt on the ice dam.
« Last Edit: December 31, 2010, 04:53:50 PM by David V-153 »
David
87' CVX-16, 85' 115 HP Johnson, 58.8 MPH GPS w/ 23" SRX Prop

Offline Rosscoe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4444
Re: Ice Dams on the House Roof
« Reply #5 on: January 01, 2011, 08:49:00 AM »
"wear shoes with spikes"

Golf shoes?  :D
Ross
61 Surflite 1964 90HP Johnson project
67 V163 Bayflite Super Sport  1989 100HP Merc
67 V164 Bayflite 120HP
67 V174 Crestflite Rat Rod
71 V175 Crestflite 350ci -Jet
73 GT 160
84 CVX 17  83 115 Merc
88 CVX-23 350 Mag

Offline CVX Fever

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2000
Re: Ice Dams on the House Roof
« Reply #6 on: January 01, 2011, 09:24:54 AM »
I live in a 2 story home w/walk-out in the back and a roof w/12-12 pitch. No way I'm getting up there ever! ;D The good news is my ceillings are well insulated and the eves ventilated so ice dams aren't an issue.
1979 CVX18 "Back in Black"....someday!
1985 CVX18 " Only thing better than 2 CVX18's is 2 girlfriends!

Offline Rosscoe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4444
Re: Ice Dams on the House Roof
« Reply #7 on: January 01, 2011, 09:57:15 AM »
Uh Yeah stay off 12-12 pitched roofs...even in the summer! I like the look but I wouldnt want to roof that or doing anything up there. Especially where your walk out is. Thats 3 stories. Long fall. :P
Ross
61 Surflite 1964 90HP Johnson project
67 V163 Bayflite Super Sport  1989 100HP Merc
67 V164 Bayflite 120HP
67 V174 Crestflite Rat Rod
71 V175 Crestflite 350ci -Jet
73 GT 160
84 CVX 17  83 115 Merc
88 CVX-23 350 Mag

Offline Hyperacme

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13464
Re: Ice Dams on the House Roof
« Reply #8 on: January 01, 2011, 11:04:02 AM »
Same here ...
Tryed to get a toy that some how got on the garage roof, wasn't pretty !

« Last Edit: January 04, 2011, 06:20:29 PM by Hyperacme »

Offline David CVX-16

  • Donate members
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3731
Re: Ice Dams on the House Roof
« Reply #9 on: January 01, 2011, 11:06:29 AM »
The shoes with spikes are the slip on rubber straps over shoes with 6 carbon tungsten carbide bits. Also wear them for my walking in the neighborhood on the icy streets. Bought them at Walmart for $15.
David
87' CVX-16, 85' 115 HP Johnson, 58.8 MPH GPS w/ 23" SRX Prop

Offline Jason

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5564
  • 1974 CV16SS, 1986 CV23
Re: Ice Dams on the House Roof
« Reply #10 on: January 01, 2011, 11:28:11 AM »
My old 1980 split entry has a 4/12 pitched roof. I was up there in the rain the other day shoveling. No ice dams yet but thought it was a good time to get a good 1000lbs of snow off the roof. I had a snow driff near the edge of at least 3 feet. Gotta love winter!
Jason S.
1974 Glastron Carlson CV16SS 140 I/O
1986 Glastron Carlson CV23 260 I/O