Mar 07, 2025
It’s easy to look up at your roof in the middle of winter, see a row of icicles, and think they’re just part of the season. They might even look nice against the snow-covered shingles. But those icicles could be warning you about something more serious. Ice dams aren’t just cosmetic. They’re slow-moving threats that can quietly cause water damage, destroy insulation, and lead to costly repairs both inside and outside. If you see signs of one forming, it’s not something to brush off. Ice Dam Anchorage is here to make sure that the threat is minimized. The most common mistake that our clients make is not treating the ice dam in time. One must understand that if proper maintenance is not performed in a timely manner, the repair cost will be double what it would have been otherwise. An ice dam happens when snow melts on your roof, then refreezes before it can drain properly. This usually starts when heat escapes from your attic, warming the roof enough to melt the snow sitting above it. The water trickles down until it reaches the colder edge of the roof. Over time, this ice creates a barrier. As more snow melts, the water has nowhere to go. It pools behind the ice ridge and starts seeping under shingles and into places it doesn’t belong. The real problem begins here. As a homeowner, it is very important to be vigilant and keep an eye out for everything. When you feel that an ice dam is forming, just simply call us, and we will take care of the rest.
If water is sitting on your roof for too long, it will find a way inside. It might start with a small leak or a damp spot in your attic. You might notice peeling paint, water rings on the ceiling, or that strange, musty smell in one room. The longer you do not acknowledge its existence, the bigger the hole the repair cost will make in your pocket. What many homeowners don’t realize is how fast a small leak can turn into structural damage. When wood framing stays wet for weeks or months, it begins to weaken. Roof decking starts to rot. Walls shift slightly. In some cases, the floor joints can even begin to sag. By the time damage is visible, a lot of damage has already been done in silence.
The collateral damage that the ice dams have is huge. You might not know but overtime they can start taking a huge toll on the gutters too. They can bend, detach from the roof, or collapse entirely. Once that happens, even normal rainfall after winter ends can cause water to pool around your foundation. Now, this is not just a roofing issue but a whole drainage problem for the house.
Once the water starts leaking from the roof, the fix will never be easy. It is highly important of Roy to have the problem fixed. The rule of thumb should be to never ignore an ice dam. Call us and we will take care of the rest .
