Tell Us What You See
Ice at the edge, water inside, or both.
Expert Ice Dam Removal Services in Blue Ash, OH
Thick Ice Along the Gutters? Get It Off Before Water Backs Up.
We remove ice dams from Blue Ash roofs and look at the attic and roof edge that let them form.
Ice Dam RemovalFor shingle roofs in Blue Ash.
We Check the AtticVentilation and intake, on every inspection.
Edge ProtectionIce and water shield on every roof we install.
Free Inspection and EstimateYou get the price before any work starts.
Ice Dam Removal for Blue Ash Homes
An ice dam is a band of ice that forms along the lower edge of a roof. It isn't just heavy. It holds back the water that melts above it, and that water has to go somewhere.
We remove ice dams, and then we do the part most people skip: working out why this roof made one.
Our Blue Ash office is at 6824 Ashfield Dr, Suite 200, and the office team is in Monday through Friday, 8AM to 5PM.
How an Ice Dam Forms
It takes three things: snow on the roof, a warm roof deck, and a cold roof edge.
Heat From Below
Warm air from the house leaks into the attic and warms the underside of the roof. The snow sitting on that part of the roof starts to melt, even when the air outside is below freezing.
A Cold Edge
The meltwater runs down until it reaches the overhang. There is no warm attic under the overhang, so the water freezes again.
The Dam Grows
Each day adds another layer. Eventually the ice is thick enough to hold a pool of water behind it, and standing water is something shingles were never meant to stop.
Signs You Have an Ice Dam
Look for these after a few days of snow cover and cold.
- A thick ridge of ice at the eaves. Not just icicles, but a solid band along the roof edge.
- Icicles behind the gutter or on the siding. Water is getting somewhere it shouldn't.
- Stains on ceilings or outside walls. Often near the outer wall of an upstairs room.
- Gutters sagging under ice. The weight can pull them off the fascia.
- Bare patches high on the roof. Snow melting from the top down means heat is escaping there.
Why You Shouldn't Chip It Off Yourself
The usual instinct is a ladder and a hammer. Both are bad ideas on an icy roof edge.
Chipping at ice breaks the shingles underneath, which are brittle in the cold. It also puts you on a ladder standing on frozen ground under a load of ice. People get hurt this way every winter.
We'll tell you how we plan to remove the dam on your roof and what it will cost before we start.
What Keeps the Water Out When Ice Does Form
Removing a dam solves this week's problem. These are what protect the house next time.
Attic Ventilation
Every roof needs intake and exhaust: outside air entering the attic low and leaving high. Moving air keeps the roof deck closer to the outdoor temperature, so the snow melts more evenly. We check intake and ventilation on every inspection.
Attic Insulation
Insulation is one of the four parts of the Owens Corning Top of the House system, along with the roof, intake and ventilation. We're certified in that system.
Ice and Water Shield
This stronger underlayment goes along the roof edges and in the valleys. It doesn't stop ice dams from forming. What it does is stop the backed-up water from seeping into the house. Code calls for it to extend 24 inches past the interior wall.
Older Roofs
Ice and water shield wasn't code about 15 years ago. Roughly 35% to 45% of the roofs we replace were built without it, which is one reason an older roof leaks from an ice dam that a newer roof would shrug off.
What Happens When You Call
We Look at the Roof
From the ground, by drone and at the eaves.
We Remove the Ice
After you've heard the plan and the price.
We Explain the Cause
Ventilation, insulation, edge protection, or all three.
If the Ice Dam Has Already Caused a Leak
Water from an ice dam usually shows up as a stain where the ceiling meets an outside wall. Once things thaw, the roof may look fine from outside while the insulation and sheathing underneath are still wet.
We'll check the attic when we can get into it and tell you what we find. If shingles or flashing were damaged, our Blue Ash roof repair team handles it.
If the gutters or the fascia took the weight, see gutters and soffit and fascia repair.
After the Thaw: A Short Checklist
Once the ice is gone, a few minutes of looking can save a repair later.
- Look at the gutters. Check that they still slope toward the downspouts and haven't pulled away from the house.
- Look at the ceilings. Stains near outside walls upstairs may not show until a week or two afterward.
- Look in the attic. Wet insulation along the eaves means water got past the shingles.
- Look at the roof edge. Lifted or broken shingles in the first few rows are common after heavy ice.
- Ask about the cause. If the same roof makes ice dams every winter, the attic is telling you something.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ice Dams in Blue Ash
Are icicles the same thing as an ice dam?
No. Icicles can form on a healthy roof. An ice dam is a solid ridge along the roof edge with water backing up behind it.
Will ice and water shield prevent ice dams?
No. It doesn't prevent them. It keeps the water behind the dam from getting into the house.
Does my roof have ice and water shield?
If it's an older roof, it may not. We can often tell at an inspection, and every roof we install gets it at the edges and in the valleys.
Will a new roof stop ice dams?
It protects the house much better, because it adds ice and water shield and properly sized ventilation. Ice can still form in the right weather.
Can ice dams damage gutters?
Yes. The weight can bend them or pull them off the fascia.
Is the inspection free?
Yes. It includes a check of your attic ventilation and intake.
Why does my house get ice dams when my neighbor's doesn't?
Usually because more heat is reaching your roof deck. Attic ventilation, insulation and air leaks from the rooms below all play a part.
Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
Our Blue Ash office is at 6824 Ashfield Dr, Suite 200. The office team is in Monday to Friday, 8AM to 5PM.
Communities We Serve
- Amberley
- Ancor
- Anderson Township
- Arlington Heights
- Avondale
- Beckett Ridge
- Bellevue
- Bethany
- Bethel
- Brecon
- Cheviot
- Cleves
- Clifton
- Cold Spring
- Coldstream
- Columbia Tusculum
- Covington
- Dayton
- Deer Park
- Dry Ridge
- Dry Run
- Evendale
- Fairfax
- Fairfield
- Florence
- Forest Park
- Forestville
- Fort Mitchell
- Fort Thomas
- Glendale
- Goshen
- Greenhills
- Hamilton
- Harrison
- Highland Heights
- Hyde Park
- Indian Hill
- Kenwood
- Kettering
- Kings Mills
- Landen
- Lebanon
- Lincoln Heights
- Loveland Park
- Madeira
- Madisonville
- Maineville
- Mariemont
- Miamiville
- Middletown
- Montgomery
- Morrow
- Mount Repose
- Mt. Lookout
- Mt. Washington
- Mulberry
- Newport
- Newtown
- Norwood
- Oakley
- Olde West Chester
- Park Hills
- Plainville
- Pleasant Ridge
- Reading
- Remington
- Ross
- Sharonville
- Silverton
- South Lebanon
- Southgate
- Springdale
- St. Bernard
- Stonelick
- Symmes Township
- Terrace Park
- Villa Hills
- Walnut Hills
- Wetherington
- Wilder
- Withamsville
- Woodlawn
- Wyoming
Ice Building Up on Your Blue Ash Roof?
Tell us what you're seeing at the roof edge, and we'll take a look.
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