Ice Dam Removal in Elk River, MN
Elk River has a bit of everything: older homes near downtown and the rivers, ramblers from the growth years and newer two-stories in the subdivisions. Ice dams find all of them.
Based in ClearwaterAbout 30 minutes from our Clearwater base.
Leak calls firstWater coming in? Calls get scheduled ahead of planned work.
Steam onlyLow pressure. No hammers, chisels, salt or pressure washers.
Hourly, quoted firstYou get the rate and a clear plan before any work starts.
Ice dam removal in Elk River
In Elk River the trouble usually starts with snow. A big storm loads the roof, the sun comes out, and by the end of the week there's a ridge of ice at the gutters. The longer that snow sits, the more fuel the dam has.
We handle both halves of the problem. Low-pressure steam takes the dam off the eave without chipping the shingles or bending the gutters. Then, if the lower roof is still holding a heavy load, we can clear it in the same visit so the dam doesn't rebuild on the next warm day.
Older homes, river valleys and Elk River's ice dam pattern
Elk River grew up where the Elk River meets the Mississippi, and the blocks closest to downtown have some of the oldest houses in town. Older story-and-a-half homes are some of the most ice-dam-prone houses in Minnesota. The upstairs rooms sit partly inside the roof, with knee walls and sloped ceilings that rarely have enough insulation. Heat goes straight into the roof deck while the eave below stays cold.
Farther out are the ramblers and split-levels from the decades when the town spread along Highway 10 and Highway 169, and past those the newer subdivisions with two-story homes, attached garages and busier rooflines. Each has its own weak spot. On a rambler it's often a long, low eave with recessed lights or a bath fan underneath. On newer homes it's the valleys and the places where a garage roof meets a wall.
Trees play a part too. Older blocks and wooded lots near the rivers keep parts of a roof in shade most of the day. Snow on the shaded side hangs on long after the rest of the roof clears, and the eave under it stays cold. Water from the warmer parts of the roof runs into that cold edge and freezes.
What Elk River homeowners should keep an eye on
- Ice and icicles under the upstairs rooms of a story-and-a-half, often with stains on the sloped ceiling inside
- A long ridge of ice across the front of a rambler, especially over a bathroom or kitchen with a vent fan
- Snow piled in valleys and against walls where a garage or addition roof ties in
- A shaded side of the roof still loaded with snow days after the rest of the roof has cleared
How a visit goes in Elk River
Give us a call at 320-760-7280. We'll ask about the house, how much snow is still on the roof and if there's water inside, so we know what to bring. You'll get our hourly rate and the plan before work starts, including snow clearing if the roof needs it. With an active leak, steam channels through the dam come first so the water can drain. Then the dam comes off down to the shingles, the gutters and downspouts get opened up, and you get photos of the finished work.
Services in Elk River
Elk River homes and businesses can call us for any of these five services:
The same steam process on every Elk River roof.
Steam melts a path through the ice so trapped water can drain before larger sections come off.
Cut drainage channels
Low-pressure steam opens channels through the dam, giving trapped water a path to drain.
Clear the roof edge
With a drainage path open, steam separates ice along the roofline without chopping at shingles.
Clear gutters and downspouts
Packed gutters and downspouts come out last, so the water has somewhere to go.
Elk River ice dam FAQ
Don't see your question? Call 320-760-7280 and describe what you're seeing.
How soon can you get to Elk River after a storm?
After a big storm the calls come in all at once. Leak calls are scheduled first, and we do same-day when we can. If nothing is leaking yet, calling early, before the thaw in the forecast, gives you the best shot at a time that suits you.
Our story-and-a-half gets ice dams every year. Can that be fixed?
Removal takes care of this winter's dam. Stopping it from coming back means dealing with the heat: air sealing, insulation behind the knee walls and ventilation. Once the snow is gone, a spring roof check can help you see where the heat is getting out.
Should I get the snow off the roof too, or just the dam?
If the lower roof is still holding a heavy load, clearing it usually makes sense. Snow is what feeds the next dam. We leave a thin layer on the shingles so the roof surface isn't scraped.
Do you work on businesses along Highway 10 and 169?
Yes. We clear ice from storefront canopies, eaves and low-slope roofs on commercial buildings. Tell us about your hours and entrances when you call and we'll plan around them.
Towns near Elk River we also serve.
Get ahead of roof ice.
Schedule ice dam removal, or call now if water is coming into your home. Don't climb onto an icy roof. Keep clear of falling ice and let a pro take it from here.