Ice Damning
Solve Ice Damning before the Winter
Ice Damming causes a laundry list of problems, not only from the ice itself causing damage but the root cause of ice damming is inside your home wreaking havoc. Ice damming is caused by heat loss in the home, typically the attic but can also happen around windows and doors. If your windows are a problem, that's a fairly easy fix, just replace the windows.
When you've noticed water dripping in the home, ice damming or icicles on your roof, the problem is a lack of insulation and inadequate ventilation.
Section 1: Standard Ceilings the fix can be quite simple.
We need to check your Attic Insulation. As of November 2016, the Alberta Building Code has changed, stating that homes require an insulation value of R50.
If you have less than R50, the Government will rebate you some of your funds to upgrade your insulation to R50.
Next is the Ventilation. Do you have adequate attic ventilation? If not we will install proper ventilation to ensure your roof has adequate air flow.
Soffit Ventilation. This is the area of your roof where there is the air intake. Without adequate air intake, the roof will not be able to let air escape. (Many older homes have solid plywood soffit, which doesn't allow the roof to intake air.) Weatherproof Roofing can replace this wood with the perforated aluminum soffit.
Section 2: Vaulted Ceilings there is only one solution.
It's still the same problem, not enough insulation/ventilation.
The problem is that many vaulted ceiling's attic spaces are very limited in size. This makes it impossible to use a traditional blown in or bat insulation to achieve R50 while still having space for airflow in the attic.
For a vaulted ceiling, this requires a spray foam insulation. Spray foam insulation acts as a vapor barrier and achieves a rating of R50 with only 7 inches of space. This will leave space in your attic for air flow.
Attic Ventilation for vaulted ceilings: If there is no cavity in your attic, then your roof requires Ridge Venting, this is the only way to vent the entire attic.
Sometimes with homes with vaulted ceilings, especially if they are older, can have a very small overhang, leaving one to wonder where will the soffit venting be installed? For this problem we will install intake vents at the base of your roof in order to achieve air intake.
If you have ice problems, or leaks inside your home during the winter, inadequate insulation and ventilation is your problem. Have Weatherproof Roofing come out and give you a free Quote to correct these problems.