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Ice damming

Ice dams are usually a roof-system warning sign.

Ice dams are often caused by a combination of heat loss, insulation problems, poor airflow, roof-edge conditions, and winter weather. Solving them means looking beyond the visible ice.

Cold-climate roof performance

What causes ice damming?

Snow melts when parts of the roof get warm, then the meltwater runs down to colder eaves and refreezes. Once ice builds at the roof edge, water can back up behind it and find weak points in the roof assembly.

Diagram explaining how heat loss, poor insulation, poor ventilation, snow melt, and cold eaves can create ice dams
Ice dams are rarely caused by one detail alone. Heat loss, insulation, ventilation, and roof-edge protection all need to be considered.
01

Heat Loss

Warm air escaping from the living space can heat the roof deck and melt snow from underneath.

02

Air Sealing & Insulation

Insulation performs best when air leaks are controlled and the attic is separated from conditioned space.

03

Ventilation

Balanced intake and exhaust help keep the roof deck temperature more consistent during cold weather.

04

Eave Protection

Ice and water protection, roof-edge details, and gutter planning help provide a secondary line of defense.