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Solutions to Ice Dams: From Prevention To Recovery

Combat Ice Dams! Address Roof Leaks And Thin Insulation Before Winter Weather Strikes.

When you are planning for your home’s winter readiness, check your roof from the inside looking for cracks, gaps, and joints. Seal all gaps and check for air and water leakage. When your insulation is thin, bringing it up to the latest code can make a tremendous difference in the heating and cooling efficiency of your home. The less heat emitted through the attic to the snow and ice on the roof, the less your chances of developing ice dams that can cause real damage to your roof.

Final Ice Dam Prevention Solutions Include Improving Ventilation And Installing a Waterproof Membrane.

Once your attic is air insulated, then improving ventilation makes a difference. The goal is to keep the air properly flowing through the home and minimizing inefficiency and heat loss through the roof. Think of it like walking in cold weather without the right hat to keep your body heat regulated. Installing a waterproof membrane is typically done when installing a new roof and can be a costly solution. Once you are at the point where you roof needs a waterproof membrane, you likely need a new roof. The waterproof layer minimizes leaks and maximizes the life of your roof.

When You’ve Got Ice Dams And Need Recovery, Handle It Layer By Layer.

The first step is knocking off excess snow to get to the ice dam. Whenever you are doing any work on your roof, be sure to take extensive safety precautions. This is especially critical in suboptimal weather conditions. Chiseling away the ice dam also requires attentive care, so as not to do any further damage to the roof. Once the ice dam is removed, salt or other chemical melting agents may be applied to halt the problem until the weather clears enough to solve the root problem.

Contact Us For A Free Storm Damage Recovery Estimate.

The Anatomy of Ice Dams

Protect against roof leaks with GAF Leak Barrier.

Protect against roof leaks with GAF Leak Barriers.

A leak barrier under your shingles, tile, or metal roof is a critical element to a roof system. Without a leak barrier, roof leaks are more likely as water can seep in from wind-driven rain, melting ice, and snow. A GAF Leak Barrier in place of tarpaper prevents water from leaking in through the roof.

How a leak barrier keeps moisture out to keep your roof strong.

Roof leaks can start with just the slightest bit of moisture seeping in. To nail the roofing material down, punctures must be made in the tarpaper, which is then vulnerable to water penetration. Leak barriers are very sticky and when a nail is put through them, the leak barrier seals around the nail to secure the vulnerable areas of the roof, keeping water out.  The most vulnerable parts of your roof are in the valleys and the eaves, around chimneys and any penetration or flashing details.

GAF gives you leak barrier options for the perfect fit.

Valley Roofing & Exteriors matches the right leak barrier to your type of roof. The range of GAF Leak Barriers are designed to add strength to the roof system on your home. Fiberglass reinforcement works to resist wrinkles so that your roofing material lays flat over the leak barrier.

Tie your warranty together with Leak Barrier.

A leak barrier is part of your roof system. To benefit from the full warranty of your roof, be sure that the system is complete. Valley Roofing & Exteriors is a certified GAF installer, ensuring that proper care is taken to activate the lifetime warranty of the roof. Call Valley Roofing & Exteriors now for an estimate to protect against roof leaks!