Ice Dam Removal
A roof is built to withstand all the weather the atmosphere can dish out, but an ice dam can become a serious problem in no time. If you have an interior leak, excessive icicles, or full gutters, contact VersaPro to determine if an ice dam has caused this home emergency and take care of it before it gets any worse. We are on call 24/7 and will be at your location within 60 minutes.
What Causes an Ice Dam?
The biggest culprit behind ice dams is a nonuniform roof surface temperature. When snow or water hits a portion of the roof that is below freezing, the precipitation freezes and creates the ice dam. Water backed up behind the ice dam remains a liquid and searches for miniscule cracks in the roof, entering the attic space and wreaking havoc.
When ice builds up on the edge of your roof, rainwater or snow get backed up too, causing more ice to form as the winter Michigan temperatures fluctuate and drop. This dangerous melting and refreezing cycle is likely to result in leaks inside or outside your home.
Signs of an Ice Dam
There are many possible signs that an ice dam has formed on your roof and the last thing any homeowner wants is the structural integrity of the home to be compromised. Thankfully, there are many possible signs of an ice dam that you can see safely from the ground, including:
- Icicles hanging from the gutter.
- Ice on the siding or other exterior surfaces.
- Gutters full of ice.
- Icicles with thick bases along the roof edge or overhang.
- Brown or yellow water seeping from shingles.
- Water stains in the attic or on the ceiling of exterior walls.
Look for Ice Dam Problems in Winter
Michigan has seriously intense winters, but just because you’re used to extreme weather and can somewhat predict its patterns, that doesn’t mean the precipitation and its fallout will always behave.
- Survey the exterior of your home during or after a storm or multiple freezing days to see if ice dams are forming at the roof edge.
- Look for leaks inside your home. When water enters your house, it must come from somewhere, and in winter an ice dam is the most likely culprit.
- If you see an ice dam, contact a removal expert immediately. An experienced team will safely remove the ice dam and dry out any mold or mildew, restore damaged or moisture-logged insulation, and repair walls and ceilings with drywall and paint.
Professional Ice Dam Removal
It may seem easy enough to use a tool from the ground to remove an ice dam on your roof, or to climb onto the roof to do it yourself. Positioning yourself atop your house is always dangerous, but especially when water and ice are involved. Instead of attempting to use unreliable methods like ice melt, hot water, or chemicals to break the dam, choose professional ice dam removers. VersaPro addresses the problem and determines if there is an even bigger cause behind it, correcting that too.
Contact us for near-immediate service in addressing this structural threat to your home, both inside and out. Our experts will take care of the problem head-on, mitigate any problems the ice dam has already caused, and suggest repairs or modifications – including increased roof ventilation and sealing off leaks – to prevent ice dams from forming again.
