Opens in a new tab
Skip to content
Illustration of a two-story brick home in winter with ice and icicles along the roof edge above the garage

Ice Dam Removal Cincinnati

Ice Built Up at the Roof Edge? Find Out Why It Formed.

We remove ice dams, and we look at the ventilation, insulation and roof-edge protection that decide whether water gets into the house.

Request a Free Inspection
Removal and the CauseWe look at why the ice formed.
Ice and Water ShieldMissing on 35% to 45% of the older roofs we replace.
Top of the House CertifiedRoof, intake, ventilation and attic insulation.
Free Inspection and EstimateYou get the price before any work starts.

Understanding Ice Dams and Their Risks

An ice dam is a ridge of ice at the roof edge. Snow melts higher up the roof, runs down, and refreezes at the cold eave. Water then backs up behind the ice.

Signs of Ice Dam Formation

Thick ice along the eaves or in the gutters, large icicles at the roof edge, and water stains on ceilings or exterior walls after a snow.

Types of Damage Ice Dams Cause

Water that backs up can work under the shingles and into the house. That means wet sheathing and insulation, stained ceilings, and extra weight on the gutters.

Illustration of a two-story brick home in winter with thick ice and icicles along the roof edge
Illustration of a white brick ranch home in winter with ice and icicles along the gutters and snow in the roof valleys

Professional Ice Dam Removal Services

When an ice dam forms on your roof, we can remove it.

Expert Removal Techniques

How we remove a dam depends on the roof and how much ice there is. We'll tell you the plan and the price before we start.

Professional Equipment and Safety

Ice dam work means ladders and an icy roof edge. It's easy to damage shingles and easy to get hurt, which is why it's a job for a roofer.

Preventing Ice Dam Formation

Ice dams start with heat and air in the attic, so that's where prevention starts.

Professional Solutions

Every roof needs intake and exhaust, so outside-temperature air moves through the attic. We check ventilation and intake on every inspection, and attic insulation is part of the Owens Corning Top of the House system we're certified in.

Ice and Water Shield

This stronger underlayment goes along the roof edges and in the valleys. It doesn't prevent ice dams, but it stops water from seeping back into the house when they form. Code calls for it to reach 24 inches past the interior wall.

Overhead drone photo of a crew installing underlayment and shingles on a roof
Drone photo of a finished shingle roof with dumpsters in the driveway below

Why Choose SWORD Roofing

Local Experience Matters. We work on shingle roofs across Greater Cincinnati, and many of the older ones have no ice and water shield at all.

  • Competitive, affordable prices and finance options. You get the price before any work starts, and financing is available through Service Finance Company.
  • Experienced, professional, Owens Corning Top of the House certified technicians. Top of the House covers the whole system: roof, intake, ventilation and attic insulation.
  • Customer service. Most of the feedback we get is about honesty and communication. We're rated 4.9 on Google.
  • Free estimates. The inspection and estimate are free, with drone photos of your roof.

Ice Dam Removal in Ohio: Why Roofs Here Get Them

People picture ice dams as a far-north problem. Southwest Ohio gets them for a different reason: our winters swing. A snowfall is often followed by a few days that hover around freezing, warm enough in the afternoon to melt snow on a roof and cold enough at night to freeze it again at the edge.

That cycle is exactly what builds a dam. It also means the ice can form quickly and catch a homeowner out, because the roof was fine all through the last cold snap.

The roofs most at risk are the ones with warm attics and little protection at the eaves, which describes a lot of homes built before ice and water shield became standard.

Ice Dam Damage: What It Does Inside the House

The ice is on the outside. The damage rarely is.

Ceilings and Walls

Water that backs up under the shingles runs down inside the wall or across the ceiling. The stain tends to appear near an outside wall.

Insulation

Wet insulation stops insulating, which lets more heat reach the roof and makes the next ice dam more likely.

Sheathing and Framing

Wood that gets wet every winter eventually goes soft. This is the damage that stays hidden longest.

Gutters and Fascia

A gutter full of ice is very heavy. It can bend, pull its fasteners and take the fascia board with it. See soffit and fascia repair and gutters.

Overhead drone photo of a bank of skylights with the old roofing torn off around them

Frequently Asked Questions About Ice Dam Removal

Does ice and water shield stop ice dams?

No. It doesn't prevent them. It stops water from seeping back into the house when they form.

Why do so many older roofs have trouble with ice dams?

Ice and water shield wasn't code about 15 years ago. Roughly 35% to 45% of the roofs we replace don't have it.

Will a new roof fix the problem?

A new roof adds ice and water shield at the edges and valleys, and we size the intake and ventilation. That protects the house, though ice can still form in the right weather.

Is the inspection free?

Yes. It takes 30 minutes to an hour and includes a check of your attic ventilation and intake.

Do you offer ice dam removal near me?

We serve Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Check our service area, or see ice dam removal in Blue Ash if you're north of the city.

Does ice dam damage need to be repaired right away?

Have it looked at once things thaw. Wet insulation and sheathing don't always dry out, and the damage builds each winter.

Can I prevent ice dams myself?

Keeping gutters clear in fall helps water drain. The lasting fixes are in the attic: ventilation, insulation and sealing the places where warm air leaks up from the rooms below.

Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Two locations serving your community. Our office team is in Monday to Friday, 8AM to 5PM.

Main office

Cincinnati

4325 Mt Carmel Tobasco Rd, Unit 1
Cincinnati, OH 45244
(513) 528-0023

Communities We Serve

Amelia Batavia Milford Loveland Mason Blue Ash West Chester

Contact SWORD Roofing

Tell us what you're seeing at the roof edge, and we'll take a look.

Request My Free Inspection Call (513) 528-0023

Rated 4.9 on Google. Read our reviews