Ice Dam Removal in St. Michael, MN
St. Michael has a lot of newer homes with busy rooflines, plus country lots where the wind piles snow wherever it wants. We take ice dams off with low-pressure steam and clear the snow that feeds them.
Based in ClearwaterAbout 35 minutes from our Clearwater base, just off I-94.
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 St. Michael
St. Michael is about 35 minutes from our Clearwater base, just off I-94. If a dam is building on your roof or a ceiling stain just showed up, call 320-760-7280. Telling us what you see from the ground is enough to get started.
Ice dam removal here works the same as everywhere we go. Low-pressure steam through a fanned wand melts the ice off the roof without force. Hammers, chisels, rock salt and pressure washers all damage shingles, gutters or the yard below, so we leave them on the ground.
Rooflines, Open Fields and Ice in St. Michael
Much of St. Michael was built in the last few decades, and the homes show it: two-stories and walkouts with hip roofs, several gables, dormers and three-stall garages. Every place two roof planes meet forms a valley, and valleys are where snow collects and meltwater concentrates. A house with six valleys has six places to watch, and a dam at the bottom of one can back water under the shingles even when the long eaves look fine.
Walkout homes add a twist. The back of the house is a full story taller than the front, so the rear eaves are high and hard to reach safely. Those are often the eaves that ice up worst, and the ones you can't see from the driveway. That's a ladder job for a crew with stabilizers, not a weekend project.
Outside the subdivisions, St. Michael still has open fields and larger country lots. Wind across open ground drifts snow deep on one side of a roof and leaves the other side nearly bare. Drifted snow is uneven fuel for ice dams, and it can load a garage or porch roof more than you'd expect. Clearing the drifted sections early is one of the most useful things you can do after a windy storm.
Signs to Look For Around St. Michael
- Ice building at the bottom of roof valleys, even when the rest of the gutter is clear
- Icicles on the high back eaves of a walkout that you only see from the yard
- Deep drifts on the downwind side of a roof on an open lot
- Stains near the top of walls or around windows on the side of the house that drifts in
How a visit goes in St. Michael
A St. Michael visit starts on the phone. We'll ask about the house, which side is icing and whether water is coming in, and talk through conditions before we head your way. You get the hourly rate and a clear plan before anything starts. Leaks come first, so the opening step is steaming channels through the dam to let trapped water out. Then we clear the roof edge and valleys, open the gutters and downspouts, and send you before-and-after photos.
Services in St. Michael
In St. Michael, here's what we can help with:
The same steam process on every St. Michael 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.
St. Michael ice dam FAQ
Don't see your question? Call 320-760-7280 and describe what you're seeing.
How soon can you get to St. Michael after a storm?
St. Michael is about 35 minutes from our Clearwater base. Leak calls are scheduled first, and we'll do same-day when we can. Storm weeks get busy, so we'll give you an honest time on the phone and respond as quickly as conditions allow.
My walkout's back eaves are too high to see well. How do I know if there's a dam?
Look from the yard for icicles, a thick ridge of ice at the gutter, or ice coming out of the soffits. Inside, check ceilings and window frames on that side of the house. Don't climb onto an icy roof to look. Call us and we'll check it with the right ladders and stabilizers.
Why does ice keep forming in the valleys on my roof?
Valleys collect more snow and carry more meltwater than the rest of the roof. If heat is getting into the roof nearby, the melt runs into the valley and refreezes at the bottom. We steam the valley open and clear the lower roof, and a prevention visit can look at what's driving it.
Is it worth clearing drifted snow off a garage or shop roof?
If the wind has piled snow deep on it, often yes. Drifts add load and feed ice at the eaves. We clear the lower roof and the drifted sections and leave a thin layer to protect the shingles. Keep clear of falling ice while it's coming down.
Towns near St. Michael 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.
