Are you well prepared to deal with flat roof ice dams? Ice dams are those pesky, unsightly ridges of ice that form mostly on roof edges, especially after a heavy snowstorm. If anything, the presence of ice dams should worry any flat roof owner because they can easily lead to extensive damage. This is why it’s vital to understand everything there is to them before installing any kind of flat or low-sloped roof. You don’t want to end up with a big pocket hole as a result of unforeseen repair expenses.
With that in mind, consider the following pointers:
How do ice dams form?
As mentioned earlier, ice dams occur when snow accumulates on your roof. The process starts with the warm air that rises from your living space. Since most flat roofs lack a heat buffer like an attic, the warm air hits the roofing system directly. Once the warm air reaches the roof, heat is transferred from the inner side to the outer one. As a result, snow on the roof begins to melt, causing water (melted snow) to run down the roof.
When this water reaches the colder roof edges, it refreezes and forms a wall of ice. These ice walls are normally referred to as ice dams. Why dams? These ice features tend to hold water as dams do. What’s more, they block the drainage system and prevent the rest of the melting snow from draining off the roof. Note that ice dams seem harmless, but they can cause serious structural damage and roof leaks. Worse still, ice walls can cause rot on the roof deck, mould, and even respiratory diseases like asthma and allergies.
What causes ice dams?
Ice dams often indicate that your roofing system has inadequate insulation or poor ventilation. In other words, any excess warm air getting to your snow-filled roofing system can lead to the formation of ice dams. This means that your roof’s lower surfaces have to be below 32°F and the higher ones above 32°F for ice dams to appear. Some low-slope roofs, complex roofing designs, and recessed lighting can increase the risk of ice dams.
So, how do you spot ice dams on a flat roof? While ice dams occur mostly on flat roof edges, they can also appear behind the gutters or in the soffit. Note that small icicles on your roof are harmless and don’t necessarily indicate the presence of ice dams.
How to prevent ice dams from forming on your flat roof
The best way to prevent ice dams or the damages associated with them is to winterize your flat roof. This way, you’ll not only reduce the risk of ice dams but also other major problems (collapsed roof, burst pipes, etc.) that occur as a result of heavy cold and snow. Here are several tips for appropriately winterizing your flat roof?
1. Reinforce the roof
One of the ways to prevent ice dams is to ensure that the entire roof and the eaves feature a similar temperature level. You can do this by properly insulating the roof with rigid foam insulation. This material will help to control the building’s interior temperature in addition to increasing its energy efficiency levels. What’s more, the rigid foam insulation is highly resistant to moisture, meaning that your building will have adequate protection against things like mildew and moss.
2. Improve your roof’s ventilation
Other than insulation, ventilating your roof can also help to control its temperature. It will ensure that your eaves and roof remain cold so that the melting of ice doesn’t occur. You can easily improve your flat roof’s ventilation by installing electric power vents. Note that as much as this measure is highly effective, it can increase the risk of leaks within your roofing system. That’s because ice, rain, and wind can easily get through the vents. As such, ensure to get a ventilation system that fits your roof design just right.
3. Install heating cables
You can also prevent the formation of ice dams by installing heating cables in your gutters. During extremely cold weather, the cables will heat the gutters to create melting channels in the ice walls. This, in turn, ensures that water isn’t trapped, causing leaks. If you choose this option, ensure that the wires are checked for wear annually by a qualified electrician to keep the heating cables working optimally.
4. Install leak barriers
Also known as ‘ice and water shield,’ a leak barrier is basically a waterproof membrane underlayment that is installed during a reroofing project. While an ice and water shield can’t prevent ice dams, it will go a long way in curbing the leaks caused by them. Leak barriers come in different grades and prices.
5. Seal the attic
If your low-sloped roof features an attic, sealing it will help to prevent the loss of heat that causes snow on your roof to melt. You can seal this space by using an insulation material that’s 12 inches deep. You should also ventilate the area well to ensure that the water vapor generated from cleaning, cooking, and bathing doesn’t reach the roof’s underside.
How to remove ice dams
It’s important to realize that all the prevention measures mentioned above aren’t foolproof. For example, there are instances when ice dams form on roofs that are well ventilated and insulated. So if your prevention measures don’t work, here’s how you can quickly get rid of ice dams to prevent extensive damage:
Clear out the snow
By eliminating the snow, you’ll have dealt with the one potential source of an ice dam. You can easily remove the snow on a flat roof by sweeping it off using a rake. Alternatively, you can apply an ice melting product like calcium chloride onto the ice.
Call in a roofing professional
A reliable flat roofing contractor in Toronto will come with special tools to deal with the ice dams. Most roofers use a high-pressure steamer to clear the dam.
By implementing the pointers above, you’re going to significantly reduce the risk of ice dam formation. Even so, ensure to deal with any potential dangerous heating sources before the winter season. This can be anything from uninsulated recessed ceiling lights to water heating equipment, heating ducts, bathroom vents, etc.
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