Ice Dam Removal in Monticello, MN
From the older blocks near the Mississippi to the subdivisions out by I-94, Monticello roofs ice up in different ways. We take the dam off with low-pressure steam and show you why it formed.
Based in ClearwaterAbout 20 minutes down I-94 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 Monticello
Monticello is about 20 minutes down I-94 from our Clearwater base, so it's close to home for us. When a dam starts holding water at your eaves, call 320-760-7280 and we'll talk through what you're seeing before anyone sets a ladder.
Our method doesn't change from town to town. Low-pressure steam through a fanned wand melts the ice in place. No hammers, no chisels, no rock salt and no pressure washer. Frozen shingles are brittle, and chipping at them in February is how a lot of spring leaks get started.
Why Monticello Roofs Ice Up Where They Do
Monticello grew out from the river. The blocks near downtown and the Mississippi have older homes: story-and-a-half houses, small two-stories and plenty of additions built on over the years. Those houses often have finished upstairs rooms tucked under the roof with little space for insulation, plus attic hatches and old bath fans that leak warm air. That heat melts snow from below, and the water refreezes at the cold overhang.
Out toward the freeway and on the edges of town, most homes are newer, built during the growth years from the 1990s on. Think two-stories, split-levels and walkouts with attached garages, vaulted ceilings and rooflines that meet in valleys. Valleys collect snow and funnel meltwater to one corner, so a newer house can dam up in one spot while the rest of the eave stays clean.
Then there are the trees. Mature trees shade a lot of roofs near the river and in the older neighborhoods. A shaded north eave stays frozen long after the south side has drained, which is why the same corner of the same house can build ice every winter. Clearing the lower roof after a big snow takes away the fuel before that pattern gets going.
What to Watch for on a Monticello House
- A ridge of ice and heavy icicles below a finished upstairs room on an older story-and-a-half
- Ice building at the bottom of a roof valley, especially where a garage roof meets the house
- Stains on a ceiling near an outside wall, or water in a window frame, under a vaulted room
- A shaded north eave that's still thick with ice days after the sunny side has melted
How a visit goes in Monticello
Call and tell us what you're seeing: where the ice is, how tall the house is and whether water is coming in. We'll talk through conditions, then give you the hourly rate and a plan before any work starts. If it's leaking, we steam drainage channels through the dam first so the water has a way off. Then the rest of the dam comes off down to the shingles, the gutters and downspouts get opened up, and you get before-and-after photos when we're done.
Services in Monticello
In Monticello we handle all five of our winter roof services:
The same steam process on every Monticello 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.
Monticello ice dam FAQ
Don't see your question? Call 320-760-7280 and describe what you're seeing.
How quickly can you get to a house in Monticello?
Monticello is about 20 minutes from our Clearwater base. Leak calls are scheduled first, and we'll do same-day when we can. After a big storm a lot of roofs need help at once, so we'll give you an honest time when you call and respond as quickly as conditions allow.
My older Monticello house ices up over the upstairs bedrooms every year. Why?
On a story-and-a-half, the upstairs rooms sit right under the roof with knee walls and sloped ceilings, and there often isn't much room for insulation. Heat gets into the roof there and melts the snow. We'll steam the dam off and point out the pattern so you know where the heat is getting out.
Can I knock the icicles down myself?
Keep clear of falling ice, and don't climb onto an icy roof. Icicles are heavy, and the gutter can come down with them. Knocking them off also doesn't touch the dam behind them, which is what holds the water on your roof.
Do you work on businesses in downtown Monticello?
Yes. Our commercial ice dam removal covers storefronts, offices, canopies and low-slope roofs. Call and describe the building, and we'll go over the rate and the plan before we start.
Towns near Monticello 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.