If you are not aware of what an ice dam is, it is the build up of ice at the edge of your roof. Sometimes these ice dams become so large that they back up water behind them and the water cannot properly drain from the roof and into the gutters. This water backup then causes the water to make its way under shingles, which then makes its way to the underlayment, and then to the roof deck. Once the water makes it to the roof deck, it becomes saturated and this can lead to rotting. This also leads to major leaks that result in further and more expensive damage to the home.

Because Minnesota sees a lot of snow in the winter, ice dams are a frequent occurrence. And not only is roof damage caused by ice dams, but overall structural damage can be caused.

Here are some ways in which you can prevent ice dams:

• Insulate– You want to keep your roof cold in the winter so that the snow will not melt on your roof. And when it does melt, it will not freeze again to create an ice dam. You need a roof that stays a constant temperature from top to bottom and from the peak to the eaves. Adding insulation to your attic floor will help regulate temperature
• Ventilate – An attic that is well ventilated in the winter is an attic that stays cold in the winter. When the attic stays cold, the roof stays cold. You will get lesser melt and when the snow does melt, it will most likely not refreeze because the temperature will be warmer by that point.
• An ice belt – If you have good insulation and ventilation and you are still getting ice dams, you can tell your Minnesota roofer and they will install an ice belt around the eaves. It provides an area where the ice and snow can just slide off rather than an ice dam form snow and. In this case, it may be necessary to remove the gutters so that they don’t hold the snow and ice.
• Heat tracing – Heat tracing is also a technique that is used in order to keep the eaves warm and prevent refreezing. This method is not a huge energy user, but does require electricity.
• Rake it – You can purchase a roof rake and rake away the snow as soon as it forms. You do this around the edges of your roof so that there are no obstacles in the way when the snow melts off of the roof.

A Minnesota roofing contractor can also add a waterproofing membrane along the eaves, the valleys, and behind your gutters. This provides extra protection against water that may penetrate the roofing. This can be a great way to prevent leaks. Nevertheless, damage from ice dams do require immediate attention in order to avoid bad leaks and rotting of the roof deck and other structural areas.

The different seasons take their toll on your roof, which is why it is good for you to know how to take care of your roof throughout the seasons. You may think that you only need to maintain your roof once per year, but if you really want to get the most out of it, then you may want to rethink that.

There are certain care tips that you can use all year round to make sure your roof lasts as long as you paid for it to last.

In Twin Cities, the seasons are quite defined. When it is winter, you know it is winter. Here are some tips for each of the seasons:

• You will first want to contact a Twin Cities roof inspector and have them inspect your roof in the late spring and/or the fall. The reason is because the winter can wreak havoc and the weather usually doesn’t start to warm up until later spring. The fall is a good time to inspect because the summer is quite aggressive on a roof and the harm that the summer can inflict is over by the fall. You can then prepare for the winter, just as a spring inspection allows you to prepare for the summer.
• Make sure during the spring and the summer that you frequently clean your downspouts and your gutters to ensure they are flowing freely.
• If your roof is over 10 years old, you can stand on the ground during a wind storm and see if there is any lift to your shingles. This is best to do during the spring and summer due to the increase in wind storms. If there is any lift, this means the adhesive strip on the shingles are not doing their job.
• If you have moss on your roof in the spring and summer, you can sweep it off when it is wet or use a moss killer.
• Also in the summer, you will want to have your roof checked after hail and wind storms to ensure no damage was done and to take care of any damage as soon as possible.
• In the fall, you want to look for any cracking after a summer of the sun hitting your roofing full force. You’ve probably experienced Twin Cities hail storms and wind storms as well, so shingles with mineral granules missing, as well as shingles showing any kind of damage should be replaced.
• You will want to frequently remove leaves and other debris from your gutters and downspouts. You may find that you do this more often in the fall because of the leaves falling from the trees.
• Check skylights, vents, and any other hardware on your roof to ensure they are not cracked or broken. You can also have a Twin Cities roofing company take care of this for you so that you don’t have to.
• In the winter, watch out for ice dams along your eaves, gutters, and your drains. If melting snow and ice can’t drain, it will find the easiest way out, which can be faulty areas on your roof.
• When snow storms come with wind, make sure there is no shingle uplift after the snow melts.

And whatever you do, do not pressure wash your roof or try shoveling snow off of your roof because this can cause more damage than good. Any time you need assistance with cleaning or removing snow, talk to a Twin Cities roofer so the right steps can be taken.