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Well-known member
Ice dams do not happen when you turn off the heat.
I understand the theory of roof color, etc. but turn off the heat inside and see how many ice dams form.
You need proper insulation and venting. Spend the time to gap seal the attic as well. Any inside air leaking up there will compound the problem quickly. The idea is to keep the roof close to the outside temp. Sound simple enough, but too many shortcuts are common.
I had a vaulted ceiling that had one area with melting. That area should have been well insulated with venting into an open attic. Someone had covered the open end of the vault roof with the blown insulation, thereby blocking the venting. I cleared the blocked venting and secured the hardboard insulation in the vault area. The melting was eliminated.
Gap sealing is not easy to do. But it is worth the work. Dress for the part and prepare for a messy project. It involves crawling through the insulation and finding anything that could be open into the attic. The could be vents, pipe, light fixtures, electrical runs and even structural walls with poor seals. Just seal everything with spray foam. Like I said it is messy.
Is it worth the work? I think so. I was grilling a steak while the neighbor was chipping ice off his roof for the third time this winter. The have to replace sheetrock, insulation, and carpet this spring. Our houses face the same direction, were built the same year by the same contractor, and both have the same roof material.
I understand the theory of roof color, etc. but turn off the heat inside and see how many ice dams form.
You need proper insulation and venting. Spend the time to gap seal the attic as well. Any inside air leaking up there will compound the problem quickly. The idea is to keep the roof close to the outside temp. Sound simple enough, but too many shortcuts are common.
I had a vaulted ceiling that had one area with melting. That area should have been well insulated with venting into an open attic. Someone had covered the open end of the vault roof with the blown insulation, thereby blocking the venting. I cleared the blocked venting and secured the hardboard insulation in the vault area. The melting was eliminated.
Gap sealing is not easy to do. But it is worth the work. Dress for the part and prepare for a messy project. It involves crawling through the insulation and finding anything that could be open into the attic. The could be vents, pipe, light fixtures, electrical runs and even structural walls with poor seals. Just seal everything with spray foam. Like I said it is messy.
Is it worth the work? I think so. I was grilling a steak while the neighbor was chipping ice off his roof for the third time this winter. The have to replace sheetrock, insulation, and carpet this spring. Our houses face the same direction, were built the same year by the same contractor, and both have the same roof material.