IL License Number: 104.017181
IL License Number: 104.017181
Most people assume snow simply melts because the sun hits the roof. In reality, snow melts from the bottom up, caused by heat escaping from the living space into the attic.
Ice dams do not form on the coldest sub-zero days. They form in a very specific temperature window: between 15°F and 25°F, especially during or after heavy snowfall.
In this range, the escaping attic heat is strong enough to melt snow from below, while the outdoor air remains cold enough to freeze that meltwater at the eaves. This combination is what builds thick, destructive ice.
As the water reaches the overhang (the part of the roof sticking out past the exterior wall), it suddenly leaves the warm portion of the home. The eave is cold on all sides. The meltwater freezes instantly, forming a thick ridge of ice.
As this ice rim grows, new meltwater has nowhere to go. It can pool, refreeze and slowly seep under the shingles, defeating your roof’s water-shedding design. This is when water can begin to enter the house: wetting plywood, damaging walls, and staining ceilings.
If icicles look brown or tea-colored, it could mean that water has traveled through wood before exiting your home, pulling tannins and resins with it. This may be a sign of active rot, and the sooner it’s evaluated, the better.
Icicles forming out of a soffit vent indicate water moving into the wall cavity. This can ruin insulation, soak framing and encourage mold inside your drywall.
Ice dams don’t only harm roofs. Water can back up behind fascia boards and travel behind siding. We have seen cases where this can go on for years before showing visible symptoms.
Gutters don’t cause ice dams. They simply collect water and ice created by heat loss.
Rock salt can scar shingles, kill plants, and corrode metal.
Gutter guards don’t prevent ice dams because they don't address heat loss or attic airflow. Ice can build on top of guards just as easily — sometimes faster.
Hammers and axes crack brittle shingles and create leaks instantly.
Many companies claim to steam ice but actually use high-temperature pressure washers, which remove shingle granules and void warranties.
Here’s a simple visual cue:
FIRST, we recommend you go on a DIY Mission: The 3-Step Flashlight Test
Inspect insulation around bathroom fans and hallway lights. If the fan pipes are loose or the can-light housing is unsealed, warm steam is being pumped directly into your attic. Dark or blackened insulation indicates dust being filtered through air leaks — a huge red flag.
Shine your flashlight on the nail tips sticking through the roof deck. Rust, white frost, or droplets on the nails prove moisture is trapped inside your home. This is one of the clearest signs of attic moisture imbalance.
Point your light into the low eave corners. If insulation is packed tightly against the roof deck, your soffit vents are blocked and the attic cannot breathe.
For additional ideas and info, visit our blog on Ice Dam Removal and Prevention Strategies.
During deep freezes, set your whole-house humidifier to 35% maximum. Any higher, and moisture will migrate into the attic, freeze to the roof deck, and melt later, creating the illusion of a roof leak.
Old can lights leak enormous heat. Replace them with ICAT-rated fixtures or cover with fire-rated enclosures.
Cape Cod and bungalow homes often cannot physically fit R-60 insulation without altering the roof structure. For many 1.5-story homes, aggressive air sealing + ventilation + snow management (roof raking) is the only realistic long-term mitigation.
We clear blocked soffits, correct intake/exhaust balance, and install proper ridge vents so your attic breathes.
We air-seal the attic floor and install code-correct R-60 insulation.
We repair or replace roofing and siding using materials tested for Chicago winters.
With over twenty years in business and hundreds of satisfied customers, we know what it takes to properly maintain a home. Join the family of satisfied homeowners who trust Holda Construction Roofing and Siding for all their roofing and siding needs.
We look forward to working with you!
Address
317 W Colfax St. Suite 102
Palatine, IL 60067
