The Iceman Cometh: Ice Damming Issues

In Chicagoland, no one can say our winters are dull! The weatherman may call for 18 inches of snow on Monday and 40 degrees and sunshine by Wednesday. These extreme weather fluctuations are tough on your roof system.

Snow on your roof melts on those balmy 37.5 degree Chicago days, but refreezes the minute the sun goes down at 4:00 p.m. What this means for your roof is that snowmelt refreezes quickly, and the ice pushes its way under your shingles and lifts them up as it expands. This process creates space under your shingles where water can penetrate your roof system, causing leaks in your home. If icicles form on your roof this winter, you should consider this as strong evidence that you may have an ice damming issue.

The best way to prevent ice damming is to have a leak barrier installed under your shingles at the gutter edge and at the eaves, rakes, valleys, and chimney areas. As a GAF MasterElite Contractor, we recommend GAF’s WeatherWatch Leak Barrier, which is one of Feze Roofing’s most valuable tools to prevent leaks caused by ice damming.

In fact, GAF says the following about this remarkable product:
“By creating a barrier at the most vulnerable areas of your asphalt shingle roof (at the eaves and rakes, in valleys, around chimneys, etc.),WeatherWatch® Mineral-Surfaced Leak Barrier helps prevent leaks due to water backing up in your gutters, wind-driven rain, and in the North, damaging ice dams.  It will also help protect your home from expensive wall and ceiling staining from leaks.  WeatherWatch® Mineral-Surfaced Leak Barrier is a key part of the GAF Lifetime Roofing System.  It’s eligible for Lifetime limited warranty when used on Lifetime Shingle roofs and it’s an eligible component of GAF residential enhanced warranties.” https://www.gaf.com/en-us/roofing-products/residential-roofing-products/leak-barriers/mineral-surfaced/weatherwatch

At Feze Roofing, our four decades of experience and our manufacturer backed products like GAF WeatherWatch Leak Barrier give us the right tools to solve your ice damming issues. Check out this throwback photo of our Feze Team from 2001 helping a local homeowner address their severe ice damming problem!

Don’t let another winter come and go without addressing your ice damming issues. Call us today at 630-530-5944 for your free estimate!