When an ice dam is leaking, the urge is to get rid of it any way you can. We get it. But a lot of the ice dam damage we see in spring wasn't caused by the dam. It was caused by how someone tried to remove it.
What chipping does to a frozen roof
Asphalt shingles get brittle in the cold. In January, a shingle that would flex in July will crack when it's hit. Hammers, hatchets, ice picks and chisels can't tell where the ice ends and the shingle starts, especially when the ice is bonded right to the roof.
The result is cracked tabs, lost granules, nail holes opened up and torn gutters. None of that leaks while it's frozen. It leaks in April, when the rain comes and the ice that was holding things together is gone.
Salt pucks and ice melt
Tossing calcium chloride pucks or stuffing ice melt into a sock on the roof is a common trick. It can melt a narrow trench through a dam, but it doesn't remove it.
- It can leave streaks and stains on shingles
- It runs off into gutters, flower beds and lawns below
- It's slow, and the leak keeps going while it works
- It doesn't clear the ice packed into the gutters
Pressure washers
A pressure washer blasts water at high pressure. On a roof, that means forcing water up and under the shingles, which is the exact problem you're trying to stop. It can also strip granules right off the surface.
How steam is different
Steam removal uses a commercial unit that heats water into steam and delivers it at low pressure. The heat does the work, not force. It melts the ice in place, right down to the shingle, without striking or scraping the roof.
- Nothing hits the shingles
- Low pressure, so water isn't driven under the roof
- It clears all the way to the roof surface, not just a channel
- It melts ice out of gutters and downspouts instead of prying them off
- No chemicals on your roof or landscaping
How a steam job goes
We set ladders with stabilizers so they stand off the gutters. If the house is leaking, we cut drainage channels through the dam first so the trapped water can run off. Then we work the rest of the dam off section by section, down to the shingle and out of the gutters. Fallen ice gets cleared from walks and beds, and you get before-and-after photos.
What about doing it yourself?
A roof rake from the ground is a good tool for single-story snow. It takes the fuel away from the next dam. Where people get into trouble is climbing ladders on icy ground, walking on a frozen roof, or going after the ice itself with whatever is in the garage.
If the dam is already built and holding water, that's the point to call. Every spring we see roofs that made it through the ice fine and then got damaged by the cure. It's not worth it.
Is steam slower?
Setup takes a little longer than grabbing a hammer. The job itself is usually faster and the result is cleaner, because the whole dam comes off, not just the parts that broke loose. And you don't trade a winter leak for a spring repair.
Ask before anyone climbs your roof
If you're hiring someone for ice dam removal, ask how they do it. If the answer involves hammers, chisels, salt or a pressure washer, keep calling. We use steam on every job. Call 320-760-7280 or request a quote.