I've been struggling with ice dams all winter, and after every major freeze, I've found myself on the roof chiseling away the ice that builds up in the gutters. It's gotten to the point where ice is leaking into my house near the wall edges, and I can even hear water dripping behind the drywall. I'm planning to hire a contractor soon, but I know it won't be cheap. My gutters are bent from the freeze-thaw cycles, and the gutter guards got damaged during my chiseling effort. I have a metal roof, and I noticed a section has separated from the siding at the corner. I'm worried the fascia and soffit might be rotten too.
I can handle replacing the insulation, vapor barrier, and drywall on the inside, but I'm wondering if there's anything else practical I can do myself to resolve this issue and save some money. I have about $6,000 saved up for repairs, but I'm considering adding more to my mortgage to get everything fixed properly. Any advice?
4 Answers
It sounds like you’ve got some serious insulation problems up there. Have you thought about how your attic is conditioned? If it's not ventilated well, that could be adding to the issue.
Ice dams form mainly because heated air reaches the roof’s underside, causing melting and refreezing. To combat this, improve your attic insulation to keep that hot air from getting to the roof. If you’re up for it, you can also remove the lower shingle courses to apply a bituthene waterproofing layer before re-shingling, but that’s best done when you re-roof.
Consider installing heat cables in the gutters to prevent ice buildup. Make sure you have an ice and water shield under your roofing as well. Also, keep your gutters clear of debris and check that no vents from your bathroom, kitchen, or dryer are terminating in the eaves, as that can contribute to the problem.
For a quick fix, you might want to try using nylons filled with ice melter. They can help in the short term. For a more lasting solution, consider installing ice melter strips. But in the long run, focus on getting your roof and attic insulation fixed to really tackle the heating issue that's causing the ice dams.