omg more snow

[CHDinCT]

Actually after looking again, it doesn't look like you even have any ice damming, just icicles. There's no gutter, right?

Not so, unfortunately. My ice damns are at least 6" thick by now but covered by the snow in that pic. Snowing again today and snow/sleet/rain forecast for tomorrow. On Thursday I will re-rake the roof and then take another shot at the ice damns. I do have a small water stain now on the inside ceiling. Just hope it doesn't get worse.

The thought of using a chainsaw to cut drainage groves in the ice damns crossed my mind, like those ice carvers you see at the winter expo's, but not sure I want to get on a slippery ladder with a running chainsaw.

 

[jake98]

Not so, unfortunately. My ice damns are at least 6" thick by now but covered by the snow in that pic. Snowing again today and snow/sleet/rain forecast for tomorrow. On Thursday I will re-rake the roof and then take another shot at the ice damns. I do have a small water stain now on the inside ceiling. Just hope it doesn't get worse.

The thought of using a chainsaw to cut drainage groves in the ice damns crossed my mind, like those ice carvers you see at the winter expo's, but not sure I want to get on a slippery latter with a running chainsaw.

It's a PITA problem. I was never a fan of ridge-vents, I suppose you have one under the snow? And some kind of soffit vents down at the eves? There has to be cold air over the insulation and no heat leaks (like recessed lights) to above, for it to work. It's not the shingles fault, or lack of ice/water shield (more snake oil, IMHO), be careful, if you wreck the shingles or break your neck you'll have more problems. If it's minor leaking I'd leave it alone, your insurance will probably cover it. This winter's been a doosie. If there's a small attic space at the top you might consider installing some gable vents in the future.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I lived in Enfield, CT in the late 60's early 70's and was working in residential construction in West Hartford back then. Nice houses and well built. But I can tell you they wern't built to withstand the weather you guys are having down there this year. To deal with alot of snow you need alot of insulation in the ceiling and, just as important, you need alot of ventilation between the insulation layer and the bottom of the roof to prevent condensation and keep the roof cold. Condensation in the insulation lowers it's R value and ruins the insulation which just makes matters worse. You need to keep the under side of the roof cold and ventilated.
Heat tape is propably the best defense against water damage at this point together with clearing the eaves of snow so the sun can get to the ice.

Glad I moved out of the snow belt and came to northern, VT
Shoveling roofs is a way of life up here. The snow on the roof dosnt melt, just builds up. You have to get rid of it before a rain comes.

 

[Jay4200]

Not so, unfortunately. My ice damns are at least 6" thick by now but covered by the snow in that pic. Snowing again today and snow/sleet/rain forecast for tomorrow. On Thursday I will re-rake the roof and then take another shot at the ice damns. I do have a small water stain now on the inside ceiling. Just hope it doesn't get worse.

The thought of using a chainsaw to cut drainage groves in the ice damns crossed my mind, like those ice carvers you see at the winter expo's, but not sure I want to get on a slippery latter with a running chainsaw.

I like the chainsaw idea.

They sell (Home Depot, I think) little hockey pucks of salt. You throw them up onto the roof, and they melt into the ice. I've never used them, but a co-worker swears by them. Regular ice melt works even better, but you have to climb up with a bag and a scoop. Toss the stuff onto the top of the dams. They'll be gone in a few hours.

JayC

 

[CHDinCT]

That heat tape suggestion sounds interesting, but if I understand the concept, you have to have in on the roof before the snow/ice hits. Is this correct? Any chance I could lay it on the ice in vertical rows and have it melt the ice down to the shingles?

 

[jimmysisson]

Chris, you can lay the tape on the ice, but it will take a while to get down to the roofing where you want it to drain the ponding. Worth a try though, if you can find some. It'll tell you, loop it up the roof to inside the warmed zone, then down to the drip area, then up again, etc.
Jake, we've had real good luck with the ice-water shield, we use the Grace product, pretty expensive but cheaper than water damage. It's not infallible but as long as you have enough coverage and the seams are good it's a pretty tight layer under there. Best thing, though, you're right, is a cold roof. Make that a cold, strong roof in this weather. Shoveled 4 hours yesterday up top.
Jim

 

[CHDinCT]

Chris, you can lay the tape on the ice, but it will take a while to get down to the roofing where you want it to drain the ponding. Worth a try though, if you can find some. It'll tell you, loop it up the roof to inside the warmed zone, then down to the drip area, then up again, etc.
Jake, we've had real good luck with the ice-water shield, we use the Grace product, pretty expensive but cheaper than water damage. It's not infallible but as long as you have enough coverage and the seams are good it's a pretty tight layer under there. Best thing, though, you're right, is a cold roof. Make that a cold, strong roof in this weather. Shoveled 4 hours yesterday up top.
Jim

Thanks Jim. An on-line search of the local home centers shows nothing, but I see it's available on Amazon (what isn't).

In the pic I posted earlier, when we built the screened porch with the flatter roof we had the water and ice membrane put on the whole roof due to limited pitch and it acting as a snow pocket. The snow gets deeper there than any other part of my roof and I've never had a leak. I'm a believer.

 

[jake98]

Thanks Jim. An on-line search of the local home centers shows nothing, but I see it's available on Amazon (what isn't).

In the pic I posted earlier, when we built the screened porch with the flatter roof we had the water and ice membrane put on the whole roof due to limited pitch and it acting as a snow pocket. The snow gets deeper there than any other part of my roof and I've never had a leak. I'm a believer.

The screen porch isn't heated Chris, and it gets more snow on it because some falls off the upper roof, right? The thing about the snow/ice shield is it's supposed to seal around the nails, like goop in a tire. It can't hurt, but roofs worked for centurys without it. Some places have it in the code now.

 

[Gizmo2]

I have been known to use this on roof ice.

 

[CHDinCT]

I have been known to use this on roof ice.
View attachment 197973

Already tried it. It works but much slower than I thought. A rock chipping hammer worked the best. I made additional channels today at lunch and I just ordered a 100' heat tape cable from Amazon. Don't know if that will work to melt the existing damns (some of the reviews said yes, some said no) but I will install it next year before the snow flies so I don't get in this mess to begin with, hopefully.

 

[SPT]

I like the chainsaw idea.

They sell (Home Depot, I think) little hockey pucks of salt. You throw them up onto the roof, and they melt into the ice. I've never used them, but a co-worker swears by them. Regular ice melt works even better, but you have to climb up with a bag and a scoop. Toss the stuff onto the top of the dams. They'll be gone in a few hours.

JayC

Do a search for Quick Ice Dam Cure. I tried it and hope it will help. It does cut a channel through the ice above the gutters. "A picture is worth a thousand words" but basically filling an old pair of pantyhose or some have suggested tube socks with ice melt and laying down the roof and over the gutter will keep it in place long enough to work down through the ice. Hopefully that will give anything that melts a place to run off the roof. I also piled up some ice melt on top of the ice above the downspouts to open them up as well. Maybe worth a try.

 

[pat32rf]

Some years back I stuck a bunch of heating cable on top of the snow and it did work to melt down thru the ice. Even ran some thru 1/2" conduit to give it weight and keep it straight. Since the I've gone to steel roofing and no longer have any problems. We get icicles on one section where it gets lots of sun, but they are all along the bottom of the eaves with no dam above.
Our biggest problem now is all the snow slowly slides down, then on a sunny day it falls wiping out the evergreens.

 

[ctgoldwing]

All that is missing today are locusts and smiting of the 1st born

4-6 inches of new snow followed by, what else, freezing rain. I made the decision not to clear the driveway last night, knowing that ice was coming. Later today I'll be able blow it all off (hopefully) right down to the frozen ground.

What was that that someone says here, nothing finer than . . . in South Carolina?

 

[CHDinCT]

All that is missing today are locusts and smiting of the 1st born

4-6 inches of new snow followed by, what else, freezing rain. I made the decision not to clear the driveway last night, knowing that ice was coming. Later today I'll be able blow it all off (hopefully) right down to the frozen ground.

What was that that someone says here, nothing finer than . . . in South Carolina?

You made the right choice. Yesterday my wife was home with schools closed and while I chipped at the ice damns, she decided to shovel off the 1" or so of sleet on the driveway. Mistake! This morning it is a glaze of solid ice. No use even trying to clear that with the tractor unless it warms up some.