Ice Dams and Snow Damage Around Syracuse
Ice dams are a signature Syracuse roofing problem. Lake-effect snow piles up, heat from the house melts the bottom of it, and the water refreezes at the cold eaves into a ridge of ice that traps more water behind it. The result shows up as icicles outside and stains inside. Fixing the damage is half the job; the other half is addressing why it formed.
The short version
An ice dam is a symptom of an attic that is too warm. Repairs fix the shingles, eaves and decking it damaged; lasting prevention comes from a cold, well-vented roof deck, good insulation and air sealing, and a solid ice and water barrier at the eaves.
- Signs: thick icicles, ice ridges at the eaves, winter ceiling stains
- Ask about: barrier coverage, ventilation, insulation and air leaks
Ice dams estimate request
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- Common scope
- Repair eave shingles and decking, add or extend ice and water barrier, improve intake and exhaust vents, note insulation and air-sealing needs
- Weather to plan around
- Repairs and prevention are easiest before the snow season
- House watch-out
- Low-slope sections, valleys and roofs over heated rooms with little attic space
- Health note
- Wet insulation and drywall should be dried or replaced
How an ice dam forms
Lake-effect snow forms when cold air crosses the relatively warm water of the Great Lakes and drops its moisture downwind, and the National Weather Service notes it can produce very heavy snow in narrow bands (National Weather Service, lake-effect snow safety). Syracuse is downwind of Lake Ontario and averages well over 100 inches of snow a season in NOAA's long-term normals (NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals). That snow sits on roofs for weeks.
When heat leaks from the living space into the attic, it warms the roof deck above. Snow melts against the warm shingles and runs downhill. At the overhang, there is no heated space below, so the water refreezes. Day after day, that ice builds into a ridge. Meltwater pools behind it and works its way up under shingles that were designed to shed water running down, not water standing still.
Signs you have one
- Thick icicles hanging from gutters and eaves, especially on the sunny or heated side of the house.
- A ridge of ice along the roof edge, sometimes with water visible behind it.
- Stains or peeling paint on ceilings and exterior walls near the eaves during a thaw.
- Wet or matted attic insulation near the eaves.
Repairing the damage
Once the ice is gone, the eave area usually needs a close look. Shingles may be lifted or cracked, the drip edge bent, decking soft, and gutters pulled loose by ice weight. Repair often means replacing a strip of roofing at the eaves and, where it is missing or too short, installing a self-adhering ice and water barrier underneath. Inside, wet insulation and drywall need drying or replacing; the EPA's mold guidance stresses drying wet materials quickly (U.S. EPA, mold and moisture).
Keeping it from coming back
The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Saver pages explain that a cold roof deck is the goal: air sealing to stop warm air from escaping into the attic, insulation to slow heat loss, and ventilation from soffit to ridge to carry away what does get through (U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver). Roof work can cover the vents and the barrier; insulation and air sealing may be separate work. Ask which parts an estimate includes.
During a dam: what is safe
Climbing onto an icy roof is dangerous, and chopping ice with hammers or shovels damages shingles. A long-handled roof rake used from the ground can pull snow off the lower few feet of roof. Watch for NWS Binghamton winter storm and lake-effect warnings (National Weather Service Binghamton (forecast office for Onondaga County)) and act before the next big band arrives. See what shapes ice dam work and the ice dam guide.
Sizing up the job: see what shapes ice dam work on the estimate-factors page. It lists what moves the scope, never a price.
Further reading
Sources for this page: National Weather Service, lake-effect snow safety; National Weather Service Binghamton (forecast office for Onondaga County); NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver; U.S. EPA, mold and moisture.
Ice Dams & Snow Damage: what people ask
What causes ice dams?
Heat escaping into the attic warms the roof deck and melts snow, which refreezes at the cold eaves. The ice ridge then traps more meltwater behind it.
Will heat cables fix ice dams?
They can melt channels for water to drain in problem spots, but they do not fix the attic heat loss that causes the dam.
Do gutters cause ice dams?
Not by themselves. Ice can fill gutters, but the dam forms on the roof edge because of melting above. Clogged gutters can make it worse.
Is ice and water barrier required?
New York's residential code calls for an ice barrier at the eaves in areas with a history of ice damming, which includes Central New York. Ask how far it will run.
Can I chip ice off the roof?
It is not recommended. Chipping and chopping can damage shingles and is dangerous. A roof rake from the ground is safer for snow.
Does homeowners insurance cover ice dam damage?
Some policies cover interior water damage from ice dams. Coverage varies, so check with the insurer and keep photos.
Ice dam repair estimates by town
Snow load, wind exposure, housing age and the code office all change from one town to the next. Pick yours for local notes.
The city
North of the city
West of the city
East of the city
Often planned alongside
Roof Leak Detection & Repair
Tracing ceiling stains, attic drips and thaw-season leaks back to the real entry point, whether it is flashing, a pipe boot or an ice dam.
Roof Replacement
Full tear-off and new roof systems for aging, storm-worn or ice-damaged roofs, planned around Central New York snow and freeze-thaw winters.
Roof Inspections
Condition checks for buying, selling, insurance questions, after a storm, or before another winter on an aging roof.
Planning ice dams work?
Send the details and expect a call back to talk the project through.