Understanding Ice Dams & How to Prevent Them

Protect Your Roof from One of Winter’s Most Destructive Threats

If you’ve lived through a Quad Cities winter, you’ve probably seen it: thick ridges of ice along the edge of a roof, dripping with icicles. It may look pretty, but that’s no decoration—it’s an ice dam, and it’s one of the most dangerous winter threats to your home.

Ice dams don’t just damage your shingles. They trap melting snow, back water up under the roof, and can cause interior leaks, mold, rot, and ruined insulation. The good news? Ice dams are preventable—with the right strategy.

❄️ What Is an Ice Dam?

An ice dam forms when snow on your roof melts due to escaping heat from your attic. The melted water flows down the roof, but when it reaches the colder eaves, it refreezes, forming a dam of ice.

As more snow melts and refreezes, water gets trapped behind the dam. With nowhere to go, it can work its way under your shingles and into your home.

🔥 What Causes Ice Dams?

The real culprit behind most ice dams isn’t just snow—it’s poor insulation and ventilation. Common causes include:

• Warm air escaping from your attic

• Blocked soffit vents

• Inadequate roof ventilation

• Uneven roof temperatures

If your attic is too warm, your roof’s surface temperature varies—causing melting, pooling, and freezing all at once.

🛠️ How to Prevent Ice Dams

You can protect your roof by keeping its surface cold and evenly ventilated. Here's how:
✔️ Seal attic air leaks around light fixtures, chimneys, and vents
✔️ Upgrade insulation to prevent heat from escaping
✔️ Ensure you have balanced soffit (intake) and ridge (exhaust) ventilation
✔️ Use ice & water shield underlayment near eaves and valleys

In some cases, adding a heated cable system or professionally installing roof snow guards may also help prevent damming on steep-pitched roofs.

🏠 Need Ice Dam Protection This Season?

Don’t wait until water starts dripping into your living room. At Twin Bridge Roofing and Construction, we help Quad Cities homeowners prevent and repair winter roof damage before it becomes a problem.

📞 Call (563) 655-4902
🌐 Visit www.roofqc.com for a free attic and ventilation inspection

Stay warm, stay dry—and keep the ice outside where it belongs.