When ice storms hit, certain areas of ice can collect on branches to where they can snap off causing damage to our roofing systems by puncturing wood the supports the roof. Power lines are down making it difficult to assess the damage caused by the storm.

Ice dams form when snow and ice melt on the heated sections of the roof that tend to refreeze at the soffit/gutter area where it’s not heated causing ice dams to form. This blocks the flow of water in and over the gutters creating icicles that tend to back the water up underneath of the shingles causing water entry into the house. This usually occurs at the ceiling/wall junction. Fortunately, Ohio revised building code requires a minimum of 24 inches of ice and water shield on the roof inside and inside the building area section and in all valley areas. Typically depending on the width of the soffit, if it’s 12 inches wide or less, one 3 ft wide row of ice and water shield is code compliant. If the soffit is over 12 inches wide, this would typically require two or more rows of ice and water shield to be building code compliant. Many municipalities require a building permit and visual inspection of ice and water shield for code compliance.

There’s a chance that mold can form where the ice forms causing the need for a total roof replacement. The best way to plan for an ice storm is to keep  the edges and gutters clear of debris. Clogged gutters cause ice to gather and if debris is on the roof edge, this creates an entry point for moisture, bacteria, insects, squirrels, and bats. It’s a great idea to clear branches away from the house to not only ensure roof protection but also for safety measures.