Gutters, Ice Dams, Insulation, Ventilation

Gutters

Gutters are a perfect place for ice dams to form, especially if they’re filled with debris like leaves and twigs. Installing a high grade steel mesh to fit over the gutters will help because leaves and debris won’t be able to accumulate in the gutters.


Ice Dams

While ice dams can’t be 100% preventable, they can definitely be mitigated and minimized. For every 1000 feet of elevation gain the temperature drops by 3.5 degrees which means the structure is at greater risk for ice dams.

Ice dams will form over any open area on the roof such as pipes and vents because of temperature fluctuations. The valley areas of dormers will frequently form ice dams and it’s important to remember to contact your roofing contractor immediately to resolve these issues.

Hammers and chisels should never be used because they can cause more damage to the roof. Also the north and east slopes of a structure will be at greater risk for ice dams. 95% of all of Colorado is Class 1 snow accumulation.

A ladder leaning against a snow-covered roof with thick ice buildup on the edge.

Even with our intense sun over 330 days a year, this adds to freeze thaw, expand and contract with ice, roof and the components installed into the roofing system. Also the north and east slopes of a structure will be at greater risk for ice dams because of limited sunlight in those areas.

Icicles hanging from the roof of a wooden cabin surrounded by snow-covered trees.
Snow Raking:
Getting the snow off the roof by steaming, or rake will minimize your risk of a cave-in and or ice dams. Long arm roof rakes can be used with caution as roof rakes can cause slides of ice and snow that can harm anyone standing below.

Salt Products on Roof:
Never put any salt products on your roof. Salt will corrode and degrade the material on your roof, plus it will harm the plants and grass when spring comes.

A person using a steam machine to remove a large icicle from a roof gutter while standing on a ladder.
Roof Steaming:
A steamer takes regular cold tap water and heats it to 300 degrees. Converting cold water into steam.

The steam is forced through a delivery hose and wand where it’s focused through a thin low pressure column used to cut through ice. The most efficient way to steam ice off a roof is to cut it into chunks then throw it down from the roof.

Diagram illustrating the formation of an ice dam on a roof, showing heat escaping from the house melting snow, which refreezes at the colder eaves.
Snow R- Value:
About 1 per inch. 6-7” of snow represents between R-5 and R-8. Just enough to slow the heat down and melt the snow. Deeper snow and cold increase the chances and likelihood and size of ice dams. Every inch of snow that accumulates on the roofs surface insulates the roof deck a little more, trapping more indoor heat beneath the roof deck and warming the sheathing. Each inch of snow has an R value of about 0.5-1. Proper air sealing and ceiling/attic insulation can prevent warmth from escaping and causing ice dam issues.

Insulation

Can there ever be enough? The right kind of insulation for your space is the answer. Installing low or No VOC insulation will be a better option for everyone’s health and for energy efficiency.

A worker in protective gear applies spray foam insulation between the wooden studs of a wall in a construction area.

Temperature fluctuations between the primary use in the structure and dead air space. Insulation in dead air space is crucial for keeping the temperature variance between predominant usage space and dead space at 10 degrees of difference. Meaning your living room, kitchen and bedrooms compared to your attic should be no more than 10 degrees apart from each other.

Final Report – VOC Free, Highly Flame Resistant Hybridsil Certified Green MAS


Ventilation

Many structures are just plain under ventilated which also contributes to ice dams. There are multiple ventilation spaces within a building such as: Mechanical exhaust systems, including exhaust systems serving clothes dryers and cooking appliances, hazardous exhaust systems, dust, stock and refuse, soil exhaust systems, smoke control systems, energy recovery ventilation systems and countless more.

So let’s talk about the ventilation of intake openings and local exhaust of air. International Building Code requires 1 square foot per 150 square feet of attic space to 1 square feet per 300 square feet of attic depending on construction. Now remember, this is the base level of ventilation requirements which are being reformed about every 4 years.

Collage of various roof ventilation systems including turbine, ridge, gable, soffit vents, and vent pipes on different shingle roofs.

In all seasons, the attic space is warmer than the outside air. This results in a constant upward air movement due to the buoyancy of warmer air. To gain the consistency of 10 degree difference between your dead air space and your predominant usage space, ask Green Bison to perform a ventilation study on your structure. We will provide you a full report of any modifications that it would benefit from.

Green Bison Roofing

Green Bison Roofing