If the Roofing Company Suggests Ice Dam Protection...

...you may want to take it.

An ice dam is a barrier of snow and ice that cakes up along the perimeter of your roof. It happens around the eaves and gutters. Basically what happens is snow from the roof melts and backs up behind this ice dam, and then seeps between the shingles. This is a very serious problem...a huge problem.

But the thing is, when you are dealing with a roofing company your suspicions are very heightened, because the company may be offering you a lot of options that you may not want. So when the roofing company offers ice dam protection, your inclination may be to turn it down.

If your house has excellent insulation in the attic, and very little energy is wasted through the roof, then your ice dam problems are lessened. But if you have a lot of energy loss through the roof, then ice dams will surely result. Considering the fact that ice dam protection consists of little more than an impermeable strip along the perimeter of the roof, just above the eaves, it really is worth having the roofing company install this. The damage that can result from ice dams is just far too major to consider not taking this small measure of safety.

Image Public Domain: U-Minn Extension