The winter months can be a turbulent time for any home’s exterior, as the likes of snow, ice, and high wind can quickly arrive without warning, putting the structural integrity of your home to the test. This is especially the case for your roofing system, which essentially serves as your home’s helmet, keeping your interior safe from the elements. Like many other things, when it comes to keeping your roof safe for the winter months, the best offense is a good defense. In today’s blog, we’ll be taking a look at one of the biggest threats to a strong roofing system – ice dams – including what they are, and the problems that they can cause. If that sounds interesting, keep reading below for more information!

Ice Dams By Definition

Relatively easy to understand given their name, ice dams are solid ice that forms at the edge of roofs, preventing water from properly flowing off your roof. Though they are simple in concept, ice dams can cause a variety of problems if they are not treated properly.

What Problems Come With Ice Dams?

In most cases of home improvement, and especially when it comes to roofing, trapped water is never an ideal thing to have. For one, this can give way to water damage, which can gradually harm any roofing system. Issues that can be caused by ice dams include:

• Mold – Not only does mold affect the appearance of your roof, bearing an unpleasant, fungus-ish appearance, it can also lead to respiratory issues if it makes its way into your home’s interior. Time is the accomplice of mold, as it can gradually spread across your roof and home if not treated properly, so it’s best to resolve it sooner than later/
• Mildew – Much like mold, mildew is another nuisance that can disfigure your roof and cause respiratory issues if present in your home’s interior.
• Sagging – Since ice dams obstruct snow and ice from falling off of your roof, they essentially just stay there and accumulate. With nowhere to go, snow and ice increase in both size and weight, which can cause sagging on your roof, especially with weak or vulnerable roofing systems.
• Leaking – Perhaps worse than sagging, leaking can transpire as a result of ice dams. Given that the likes of water, snow, and ice are all trapped in place, over time, they can penetrate a weak or compromise roof.

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