Ice Dam Removal in Ramsey, MN
Ramsey sits along Highway 10 and the Mississippi, with big lots, plenty of pines and a lot of homes built as the city grew. We cover it from our Clearwater base.
Based in ClearwaterAbout 45 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 Ramsey
Ice dams in Ramsey tend to show up after the first long cold stretch, when snow has been on the roof long enough for the attic to start melting it from underneath. The water runs to the eave, freezes and builds a ridge. Then a mild day sends meltwater back up behind that ridge, under the shingles and into the house.
We remove those dams with low-pressure steam. It melts the ice without hitting the roof, so there are no cracked shingles, bent gutters or salt stains on the siding to deal with in spring. If water is already coming in, stopping it is the first thing we do.
Big lots, tall pines and why Ramsey roofs hold ice
A lot of Ramsey is larger lots, many of them wooded. Pines and oaks block the sun from parts of the roof, and evergreens do it all winter long. The shaded eaves stay frozen while the rest of the roof melts, so water keeps running to the coldest edge of the house and freezing there. Tree cover also means needles and leaves in the gutters, which turn into solid ice once they freeze.
Much of the housing went up as Ramsey grew from mostly rural land into a suburb: ramblers and split-entries, two-story homes in newer subdivisions, and houses on acreage with detached shops and garages. On ramblers and split-entries, the problem spot is usually a long, low eave over the main living space. On the bigger two-stories it's the valleys and the places where an attached garage roof meets the house.
Out on the larger, more open lots, wind drifts snow onto one side of the roof and leaves the other side nearly bare. The deep side becomes the dam. If your house sits back from the road or the driveway is long, let us know when you call so we can plan how to get our equipment close.
What Ramsey homeowners should watch for
- Ice that never seems to melt along the shaded side of the roof under pines or oaks
- Gutters packed with needles and leaves that freeze solid and overflow with ice
- A long ice ridge across the front of a rambler or split-entry above the main living area
- Deep wind drifts on one side of the house roof, or on a detached shop or garage
How a visit goes in Ramsey
First, call 320-760-7280. We'll ask where the ice is, how tall the house is, if water is inside and how easy it is to get to the house from the road. You'll hear our hourly rate and the plan for your roof before we start anything. If it's leaking, we steam drainage channels through the dam first so the water has a way out. Then we clear the eave down to the shingles, free up the gutters and downspouts, and send photos showing the before and after.
Services in Ramsey
For homes, acreages and businesses in Ramsey, here's what we do:
The same steam process on every Ramsey 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.
Ramsey ice dam FAQ
Don't see your question? Call 320-760-7280 and describe what you're seeing.
How soon can you get to Ramsey?
We reach Ramsey by Highway 10 or I-94 from our Clearwater base. Leak calls are scheduled first, and we do same-day when we can. After a big storm, calling early gives you the best chance at a time that works for you.
The north side of our roof ices up every year. Why?
Shade. On a wooded lot the north side, and anything under evergreens, stays cold and holds snow the longest. Meltwater from the warmer parts of the roof refreezes when it hits that edge. Clearing the lower roof after big storms helps, and a spring roof check can look at the heat side of the problem.
Do you clear snow off detached garages and shops?
Yes. We clear snow and ice from detached garages, shops and outbuildings, including low-slope roofs. Tell us about them when you call and we'll include them in the plan.
Is it okay to put salt pucks in the gutters?
We don't recommend it. Rock salt and salt pucks corrode metal gutters, streak the roof and damage plants and lawn below. Steam takes the ice off without leaving anything behind. And keep clear of falling ice while you wait for us.
Towns near Ramsey 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.