This document discusses ice damming, which occurs when snow and ice accumulate on roofs due to subfreezing temperatures. Symptoms include a glacier-like pattern of snow melt at the eaves and icicles hanging from the eaves. Ice dams can cause roof and shingle damage as well as water penetration into buildings. Causes include inadequate attic insulation and ventilation, snow buildup on roofs, and extended periods of subzero temperatures. Short-term solutions address symptoms but not causes, while long-term solutions like installing eave flashing and improving attic insulation and ventilation create a "cold roof" to prevent ice dams. The document also briefly discusses de-icing chemicals and their safe application.

1. Winter Concerns: Ice Damming,
De-Icing Chemicals
Presented by:
John T. Stevens, ICS, RS, CGP
Vice President and General Manager, Kipcon Inc.
jstevens@kipcon.com
(732) 220-0200

3. What IWill BeTalking About…
 What is Ice Damming
 Symptoms
 Results
 Causes
 Aggravating Factors
 Short Term Solutions
 Long Term Solutions

4. What Is Ice
Damming?

5. When a roof is covered
with snow and the outside
temperatures remain at or
below freezing for an
extended period of time,
ice accumulates on the
roof (typically at the eaves
but also in other locations)
and forms “dams.”
Then, when the snow
melts, the water backs up
behind the ice “dams,”
which can penetrate under
the roof shingles and into
the interior of the building.

6. Symptoms of Ice Damming
Symptoms
 Typical Pattern of Snow Melt
on Roof
 Icicles Hanging from Eaves
 Gutters Clogged with Ice

7. Ice Damming Symptoms:Typical
Pattern of Snow Melt on Roof
 Snowmelt refreezes at eaves
 Glacier like
 Roof shingles and deck can be damaged by
refreezing

8. Ice Damming Symptoms:Typical
Pattern of Snow Melt on Roof

9. Ice Damming Symptoms:Typical
Pattern of Snow Melt on Roof

10. Ice Damming Symptoms:Typical
Pattern of Snow Melt on Roof

11. Ice Damming Symptoms:
Icicles Hanging from Eaves
 Indication of
effectiveness of attic
insulation
 Icicles are not,
themselves, a problem

12. Ice Damming Symptoms:
Gutters Clogged with Ice
 This contributes to
overload of ice at eaves
 Interferes with drainage
and aggravates problem.
However, this is not the
cause

13. Ice Damming Results
 Roof/Shingle Damage
 Water Penetration into the
Building

14. Ice Damming Results:
Roof/Shingle Damage

15. Ice Damming Results:
Water Penetration Into Building
 Results from ice dams
at eaves blocking runoff
of snowmelt
 Can penetrate into many
areas (wall cavities;
rafters/trusses, plates,
etc.)

16. Ice Damming Results:
Water Penetration Into Building
The problem is difficult to see until water intrusion into the interior
spaces occurs.

17. What Causes Ice Damming
 Process of Ice Dam Development
 Snow/Ice Build Up on Roof
 Extended Period of Subfreezing
Temperatures

18. What Causes Ice Damming:
Process of Ice Dam Development
1. Snow fall covers the roof (snow blanket is a good insulator)
2. Warm attic air melts snow
3. Most melting occurs at the ridge because the warmest air is at the
ridge and coldest is at the eaves
4. Snow melt runoff flows under the insulating blanket of snow cover
and refreezes at the eaves, forming dams of ice
5. As more water emerges from the snow blanket, it is blocked by the
ice dams. Water pools on roof and backs up under shingles and
roof deck

19. What Causes Ice Damming:
Process of Ice Dam Development

20. What Causes Ice Damming:
Snow Buildup On Roof
 As little as 1”-2” of snow can
cause problems
 The deeper the snow, the
more inevitable that ice
damming will occur
 Wind blown snow can lessen
or worsen the ice damming
conditions by clearing or
adding snow to different roof
areas

21. What Causes Ice Damming:
SubfreezingTemperatures
 Usually takes a minimum of 3-
4 days to develop ice dams
 The colder the temperature,
the worse the problem

22. What Causes Ice Damming:
Aggravating Factors
 Inadequate Attic Ventilation
 Improper Attic Insulation
 Poor Construction
Techniques

23. What Causes Ice Damming:
Inadequate AtticVentilation
 The minimum required
ventilation is not sufficient to
prevent ice dams
 You can never have too
much ventilation
 Ventilation must be looked at
together with improper
insulation

24. What Causes Ice Damming:
Improper Attic Insulation
 Typically not enough is installed
(Norm = 6”; Need 10”-12”)
 Not installed properly (has
voids, thin spots, missing, etc.)
 Uninsulated flue and dryer vent
pipes. Insulation should not
block the soffit vents
 Insulation must be looked at
together with inadequate
ventilation

25. What Causes Ice Damming:
Poor ConstructionTechniques
 Not properly securing
insulation blocking vents
 Careless placement of
insulation
 Lack of attention paid to the
detail of soffits

26. Short-Term Ice Dam Solutions
 Removal of Snow/Ice from Roof
 Removal of Gutters
 Use of Snow Melt Devices
 Use of Snow Breaker

27. Short-Term Ice Dam Solutions:
Removal of Snow/Ice from Roof
 Total removal is only effective way of
prevention in a “WARM” house
 Partial removal only causes secondary ice
dams to form higher on roof
 Removal can cause damage to the
shingles from the tools used and people
walking on the brittle shingles
 Going on snow/ice covered roof is
DANGEROUS!!!
 Heat cables or tapes accomplish the same
thing as partial removal

28. Short-Term Ice Dam Solutions:
Removal of Gutters
 May provide temporary
relief by allowing better
drainage of snow melt
runoff. However, ice dams
still occur on roofs without
gutters

29. Short-Term Ice Dam Solutions:
Use of Snow Melt Devices
 Heat cable; different types of
gutters and/or gutter covers, etc.
 Many items on the market which
may or may not provide some
level of relief but they only
address the symptoms not the
causes.

30. Short-Term Ice Dam Solutions:
Use of Ice Dam Breaker
1. Fill the leg of discarded pair of panty
hose with a calcium chloride ice melter.
2. Lay the hose onto the roof so it crosses
the ice dam and overhangs the gutter. If
necessary, use a long-handled garden
rake or hoe to push it into position.
3. The calcium chloride will eventually
melt through the snow and ice and
create a channel for water to flow down
into the gutters or off the roof.

31. Long-Term Ice Dam Solutions:
 Install Eave Flashing
 Correct Inadequate Attic Ventilation
 Ensure Insulation is Properly
Installed

32. Long-Term Ice Dam Solutions:
Install Eave Flashing
Install Eave Flashing
 Use membrane (Ice and Water
Shield or other manufacturer)
 Membrane has adhesive
backing
that sticks to the roof and wall
sheathing.
 It is self sealing and will not
allow
water penetration at fasteners.
 Does not address causes; only
prevents water intrusion into
interior space of home.

33. Long-Term Ice Dam Solutions:
Correct Attic andVentilation
Insulation
 Both components must be increased to
obtain a “Cold Roof”
 Ventilation must allow for large scale air
movement to quickly get rid of warm air
 Insulation must be thicker and more
carefully installed in order to keep heat
loss into the attic to a minimum
 Heat generating penetrations into the attic
(flue pipes, dryer vents, etc.) must be
insulated
 Special consideration must be given to the
plateline area to make sure it is both well
ventilated and well insulated

34. Long-Term Ice Dam Solutions:
Typical Pattern of Snowmelt on Roof

35. What IWill BeTalking About
 Types of De-icing Chemicals
 Application of De-icers

37. Application of De-Icers
 Clear snow prior to application
 Apply de-icer in a thin, even layer

38. Protection of Surfaces
 Use chemicals sparingly
 Do not use Magnesium in any form
 Do not use any de-icer on concrete less than 12
months old
 Avoid spreading on plants and lawn

39. Protection of People and Pets
 Keep chemicals away from children and pets
 Limit pet’s exposure (wipe paws)

40. And Now the Short Commercial
Kipcon…
Decades of Experience
 Reserve Studies
 Transition Studies
 Value Engineering
 Energy Audits
 Building Envelope
Analysis and Design
 Site Analysis and Design
 Rebate Analysis

41. Specifications, Bidding and Contract
Administration
Siding
Drainage
Roofing
Pavement
Restoration

42. Thank You!
Any Questions??
John Stevens, ICS, RS, CGP
Vice President & General Manager, Kipcon Inc.
jstevens@kipcon.com
(732) 220-0200
Kipcon Headquarters:
Kipcon Inc. New Jersey
Kipcon Regional Offices:
Kipcon Pennsylvania Fort Washington, Pennsylvania
Kipcon New England Boston, Massachusetts
Kipcon DC Alexandria, Virginia
Kipcon Great Lakes Chicago, Illinois
Kipcon Texas Sugar Land, Texas
Kipcon Inc.
800-828-4118
www.kipcon.com