What Are Ice Dams?
The winter in Fort Collins and regions throughout Colorado often brings about several snowstorms and extremely low temperatures. This can make for great skiing and a beautiful view out of your windows, but it can also mean trouble for your roofing system. Specifically, the winter season creates the risk for ice dams. This roofing issue can be avoided, but if it impacts your home, it may have ramifications for the condition of your roof.
Let’s learn more about ice dams and how they can affect Fort Collins roofing systems. Rest assured, with proper roof maintenance, you can steer clear of ice dams and preserve the condition of your roof.
Ice Dams
So, what exactly is an ice dam, and how does it form?
An ice dam is a frozen ridge that forms when snow melts, then refreezes on the edge of your roof. This works like a dam, keeping water pent up behind it, instead of draining off of your roof.
On its own, an ice dam isn’t particularly troubling for your roof. The issue comes with the water from additional melted snow that typically gets stuck behind the ice dam. Water shouldn’t sit on the surface of a roof for long. The longer that water is stagnant on your roof, the higher the risk for water damage becomes.
Damage From Ice Dams
Backed-up water behind an ice dam will impact not only the surface of your roof, but also its underlying structure and, in severe cases, the interior of your home. Here are the main types of damage that can result from an ice dam on your roof:
Insulation Damage
Roofs and attics need to be insulated to prevent heat transfer to and from your home. When insulation gets wet, it won’t properly keep heat in your home during the winter, forcing your heater to work harder. Plus, when insulation isn’t working properly, it will exacerbate the ice damming issue. Additionally, wet insulation can start to develop mold. Moldy insulation will require replacement to ensure that mold spores don’t start to circulate throughout your home.
Mold
Speaking of mold: In addition to mold in the insulation, stagnant water from an ice dam will encourage mold growth in your roofing materials and, eventually, your home. Mold thrives in damp environments and can grow without you noticing. Once mold has developed in your home, it can start to trigger allergies among people in your home.
Bubbling Paint
Paint doesn’t react well when it’s exposed to moisture for an extended period. If your roof starts leaking because of an ice dam, you may notice damage to your interior paint, including bubbling, peeling, and even blistering.
Rot
Wet wood leads to rotting. Typically, rafters, wall framing, wall sheathing, and roof decking are made of wood. When these components get wet because of an ice dam, they’re at risk of rotting. This will shorten the lifespan of your roofing system, eventually leading to an early Fort Collins roof replacement.
How To Prevent Ice Dams
The damage that ice dams can cause may seem intimidating, especially here in Colorado, where major snowstorms are not only likely, but to be expected. Thankfully, there are many measures that you can take to prevent ice dams, including:
Install attic insulation
Insulating your attic will make a big difference in preventing the heat loss that can lead to ice dams. Ensure that your home’s insulation is in good condition. If it’s been many years since it was installed, it may be time to replace it to ensure adequate protection against ice dams. Plus, with attic insulation, your home’s heater will operate more efficiently, leading to lower utility bills.
Install chimney flashing
Heat can also be lost out of your home’s chimney. Having roof flashing installed around the chimney can stop this type of heat loss from occurring. Again, if it’s been a while since your roof flashing was installed, it’s probably a good time to have it replaced.
Insulate the ductwork
Insulating your home’s ductwork will prevent air leakage - namely the loss of warm air from your home. Ducts should be both insulated and properly sealed for maximum heat loss protection.
Contact Wood Street Builders today to learn more about protecting your Fort Collins roof against ice dam damage.