Damn Ice .... I mean Ice Dam!

EricG · 01-15-08, 06:21 PM

First the good news - got through the framing inspection on my addition with only a few small issues to address!

Now the problem - as I was working out there last night I noticed the back corner of the garage was very wet. Found that the framing was wet & nail heads stained all the way up to the roof. I'll try to post pics later, but there's a quick sketch below.

Theory #1 About a week ago I had heat in there all weekend - woodburner & propane space heater. Not hot, but comfortable with a light sweatshirt and no gloves. Since nothing is closed in or insulated yet, it melted some snow on the roof, which ran down & refroze at the end of the valley forming an ice dam - the edge of the roof sticks out about 6" from the house, and so was cold. It probably leaked at the time, but I wasn't working over there and didn't notice it.

Fast forward to to last night - yesterday was probably the first time in a week that it's been significantly above freezing, and all the water that was frozen in the wall and roof thaws and makes a puddle on my floor

No ice dam evident - must have melted. But this roof has been on for 4 years and I've never noticed a leak here before, so there must have been one right??
Sound reasonable? If this is true, there's probably no worries. Once it's closed off & insulated below that roof, I shouldn't see this again ... right?

Theory #2 - that long wall is facing south, and the lower part of that valley may be shaded by trees. The sun melts snow higher on the roof, it runs down the valley into the shade and refreezes causing ice dam & subsequent leak. If this theory is true, that insulation won't help. I'm thinking about knocking a hole in the wall and putting an outlet up there (with a switch on the inside) and running one of those heat cables (EasyHeat PSR pre-terminated self-regulating cable) up the valley.

What do you think? I'm leaning toward #1 - but it'll be a bitch putting in that outlet up there once the walls are closed in if I'm wrong. Of course, the outside is stucco, and it's cold and snowy on the roof, so it's a minor bitch now. And I don't like having more holes in my walls then absolutely neccesary!

webelk6 · 01-15-08, 09:13 PM

IMHO every time it snows , use a stepladder and a rake and reach up as far as you can go to remove snow. The melting of the further away snow should not create any ice damns, and you gutters have a better chance of working.

MoJ · 01-17-08, 08:37 PM

What's the flashiing like at the bottom of the red valley? If everything is flashed and sealed properly there shouldn't be any worries.

D'Animal · 01-17-08, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoJ

What's the flashiing like at the bottom of the red valley? If everything is flashed and sealed properly there shouldn't be any worries.

And how far does the eave extend past the outer wall.

EricG · 01-17-08, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D'Animal

And how far does the eave extend past the outer wall.

The eave extends about 6" past the outer wall, there is a short section of gutter under the end, and a downspout.

Is far as I know the flashing is good. I contracted the roofing - was to big a job for me. I don't think it's ever leaked there before ... but then, this project has sat idle for a few years so I may not have noticed.

There's fresh snow on the roof and I'll be working out there again this weekend, so I'll keep an eye on it.

EricG · 01-19-08, 05:46 PM

Well, there's definitely no ice dam ... it's just plain leaking.
Sunofabitch.

photogod · 01-20-08, 09:42 PM

There is heat cord that will solve the problem if your insulation is not keeping the heat in. I have this cord in all my gutters and downspouts. If you have ice dams above you might want to chip it away and releave the thaw. Then lader up there and lay the cord in large zig zag patterns on the shingles. The cord comes with instructions and clips to slide under your shingles to keep it in place. Run it inside the gutters and down the down spouts to an exterior outlet. The cord heats up a bit and keeps a path open for the water to flow there by preventing ice dams and dammage. Works like a charm. Good luck.

01-19-08, 05:46 PM	#6
EricG IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 558	Well, there's definitely no ice dam ... it's just plain leaking. Sunofabitch. __________________ It is neither necessary or possible to educate someone who never questions anything. - Josephe Heller, Catch 22 93 FZJ80 - Locked & Lifted - still waiting on Loaded (CDL, 7pin, Axle transplant from Jenny Cruiser, 2" OME lift)

01-20-08, 09:42 PM	#7
photogod I'm really very humble Join Date: May 2004 Location: MN physically, MI spiritually Posts: 1,325	There is heat cord that will solve the problem if your insulation is not keeping the heat in. I have this cord in all my gutters and downspouts. If you have ice dams above you might want to chip it away and releave the thaw. Then lader up there and lay the cord in large zig zag patterns on the shingles. The cord comes with instructions and clips to slide under your shingles to keep it in place. Run it inside the gutters and down the down spouts to an exterior outlet. The cord heats up a bit and keeps a path open for the water to flow there by preventing ice dams and dammage. Works like a charm. Good luck. __________________ 94 FZJ80, factory locked with mods worth more than the truck.

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01-15-08, 06:21 PM	#1
EricG IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 558	Damn Ice .... I mean Ice Dam! First the good news - got through the framing inspection on my addition with only a few small issues to address! Now the problem - as I was working out there last night I noticed the back corner of the garage was very wet. Found that the framing was wet & nail heads stained all the way up to the roof. I'll try to post pics later, but there's a quick sketch below. Theory #1 About a week ago I had heat in there all weekend - woodburner & propane space heater. Not hot, but comfortable with a light sweatshirt and no gloves. Since nothing is closed in or insulated yet, it melted some snow on the roof, which ran down & refroze at the end of the valley forming an ice dam - the edge of the roof sticks out about 6" from the house, and so was cold. It probably leaked at the time, but I wasn't working over there and didn't notice it. Fast forward to to last night - yesterday was probably the first time in a week that it's been significantly above freezing, and all the water that was frozen in the wall and roof thaws and makes a puddle on my floor No ice dam evident - must have melted. But this roof has been on for 4 years and I've never noticed a leak here before, so there must have been one right?? Sound reasonable? If this is true, there's probably no worries. Once it's closed off & insulated below that roof, I shouldn't see this again ... right? Theory #2 - that long wall is facing south, and the lower part of that valley may be shaded by trees. The sun melts snow higher on the roof, it runs down the valley into the shade and refreezes causing ice dam & subsequent leak. If this theory is true, that insulation won't help. I'm thinking about knocking a hole in the wall and putting an outlet up there (with a switch on the inside) and running one of those heat cables (EasyHeat PSR pre-terminated self-regulating cable) up the valley. What do you think? I'm leaning toward #1 - but it'll be a bitch putting in that outlet up there once the walls are closed in if I'm wrong. Of course, the outside is stucco, and it's cold and snowy on the roof, so it's a minor bitch now. And I don't like having more holes in my walls then absolutely neccesary! Attached Images __________________ It is neither necessary or possible to educate someone who never questions anything. - Josephe Heller, Catch 22 93 FZJ80 - Locked & Lifted - still waiting on Loaded (CDL, 7pin, Axle transplant from Jenny Cruiser, 2" OME lift)

01-15-08, 09:13 PM	#2
webelk6 Brewers in '08! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: God's Country Posts: 690	IMHO every time it snows , use a stepladder and a rake and reach up as far as you can go to remove snow. The melting of the further away snow should not create any ice damns, and you gutters have a better chance of working. __________________ 04/75 fj40 slowly under resto...... build thread http://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/99015-04-75-frame-off.html '94 FZJ80 (DJ81) with 14k gold emblems(wifes) '06 Tundra/Work Truck Model Iforce V-8 ( paint/estimating rig)

01-17-08, 08:37 PM	#3
MoJ Present Join Date: Oct 2003 TLCA# 14112 Posts: 2,673	What's the flashiing like at the bottom of the red valley? If everything is flashed and sealed properly there shouldn't be any worries.