How can you avoid ice damns? Well, the good news is that with freezing temperatures no damage will be occurring – that is until the temperature rises and everything starts to heat up, then there will be roof leaks and possible roof damage. If your ice dams are melting and are a COMMERCIAL FACILITY that has roof leaks in Boise or the surrounding area Upson Company can fix your leaks. If you don’t have leaks now, you may want to take some precautionary steps to prevent ice dams after the next snow storm:

• First, get all loose snow off your roof, at least four to six feet from the roof edge. Since this a dangerous job you would be advise to hire a certified roofing contractor to do any snow removal. Snow is sitting on top of the ice dam, which not surprisingly is a thick sheet of ice, and consequently very slippery.
• Second, all gutters and down spouts will need to cleared of all ice and snow so that when water begins to flow it has somewhere to go. If there is not a clear path for melted ice and snow it will stay on your roof. This water won’t be stationary; it will work its way under ice dams trying to find a way to flow. If you have an adequate layer of water and ice shield you may not have any leaks. However, if there are not the appropriate layers you will have leaks, especially in the valleys. Gutters and downspouts are best cleared by applying ice melt or using a steamer. If you decided to chisel the ice out, it should be noted that puncturing your gutters or the roof is a definite possibility – take caution.

Remember to prevent ice dams make sure gutters and down spouts are cleared and water can easily flow from your roof to the ground. If you have icicles hanging from your roof ice dams could be forming and you do not have sufficient water flow for snowmelt to move off your roof.  Its important to note that Upson is not currently working on residential roofs.