Ice Damming Winnipeg

An ice dam is an ice build-up on the eaves of sloped roofs of heated buildings that results from melting snow under a snow pack reaching the eave and freezing there. Freezing at the eave impedes the drainage of melt water, which adds to the ice dam and causes backup of the melt water in a manner, which may cause water leakage into the roof and consequent damage to the building and its contents if the water leaks through the roof.

Ice dams occur on heated buildings with sloping roofs in cold climates with deep snow accumulation. Ice dams on roofs form when accumulated snow forms an insulating layer under cold conditions that would cause the freezing point to be within the snow layer, if it weren’t subject to melting. Instead, building heat coming through the roof’s surface melts the snow resting on it. This causes melt water to flow down the roof, until it reaches below a place on the roof’s surface that is below freezing—typically at the eaves where there is no building heat. When the melt water reaches the frozen surface, ice accumulates, growing a barrier that impedes further passage of melt water off the roof. Ice dams may result in leaks through the roofing material, possibly resulting in damaged ceilings, walls, roof structure and insulation, damage or injury when the ice dam falls off or from attempts to remove ice dams.

The melting of roof snow comes from the combination of three basic causes:

• Air temperatures well below freezing.
• A thick layer of dry snow, which has good insulating capabilities.
• Heat from the building coming through the roof.

If any of these factors is missing, ice dams can’t form. Above freezing air does not promote ice dams, nor does granulated spring snow on a roof, which has poor insulating capabilities, nor does a roof that doesn’t warm to above freezing at its surface. Ice dams may occur when the under-roof temperature is above −1 °C and the outdoor air temperature is below (−6 °C).

Agassiz Roofing – A Winnipeg Roofing Company

We’re dedicated to meet your exterior project needs, as well as budget. Specializing in full service exterior renovations including: roofing, soffit, fascia, eavestroughing, and siding. Let us assist you, in completing your project needs. If you’re looking to request a FREE estimate on any of our services in Winnipeg, head over to our Estimate page and we’ll get started. You can also call Agassiz Roofing directly at 204.975.9426.

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