Icicles and Ice Dams
During freeze and thaw cycles in the winter, ice dams and icicles form on most houses in upstate new york. They can cause damage to roofs and gutters, and have the potential for injuring people as they brake off.
Ice on a roof can be reduced by having proper ventilation in your attic space and proper insulation in your house.
Ideal roof ventilation allows air to flow in under the eaves and out near the ridge of the house. This flow of air helps to prevent temperature differentials on the roof that lead to ice formation.
And the insulation above your living space should be at least a foot deep. If yours is lower, consider rolling out some more or having some blown in. (Be sure that ventilation doesn’t get obstructed.)
Even the best insulated and ventilated roof will have ice problems when conditions are right. So a last line of defense is heating cables that melt off ice as it forms. They don’t always look great, but they look better than gutters hanging off or roof buckling up.
