Home Improvement Today?

They sound like it.

 

Everyone has damming now, we've had 2-3 storms with 2 feet of snow in less than 30 days. I use a roof rake but just can't keep up with the shit

 

Metal roof FTW!

 

What do you mean you have an ice dam on the 1st floor ?

 

Metal roofs belong on barns and outbuildings.

 

Standing seam is nice , I wish I did that on my own place now

 

My house started its life in the 30s as a one floor. At some point a small addition was put on for a small room upstairs. The dam is on the back, leaking into my bathroom and exercise room on the 1st floor.

 

I'm considering metal roof on the back but right now my pressing issue is getting the dam undone before it destroys the inside

 

And houses! When maintained metal will outlast other roofing systems.

 

When not maintained it will too

 

I've seen a heat tape product that goes directly on the roof where ice dams tend to form. Usually they are installed before hand. I don't know if they can be installed after the fact, but I don't see why not.

 

I used an axe on my old house

 

I've had a poor mans v crimp metal roof for 13 yrs now. I would've had to replace many asphalt shingle roofs by now.

 

Depends on the product . i put 40 year laminates on my place

 

To each there own. The metal roof fad on houses bug has not hit me yet. Best of both world's is metal shingles. 50 warranty. But 650-700+ a sq to install.

 

My last ice dam (before the metal) I used a salamander to thaw the downspout and any implement that would chip ice on the roof. Got some help from the sun.

 

Stainless steel standing seam

 

True and I've seen and replaced on my old house 25 yr shingles.

 

ice damming is usually caused like Oz said from heat escaping from attic, melts snow down roof til it gets away from heat near the gutter then ices up. I've been on an air sealing spree the last few days in my attic and vented crawl space. It is UNBELIEVABLE the shoddy "work" you discover the home builder/subcontractors did when you pull back attic/crawl space insulation!! I'm talkin huge holes and gaps, fairly significant heat/ac loss going on which equals a lot of money over time when not sealed up.
The biggest holes I found (and I'm SURE it's the same at everyone's house) were in my crawl space for the bathtub drains, it's like the plumber just took a chainsaw to the subfloor and cut a 2'X2' hole, then barely covered w/ insulation batt. It was the same at both 1st floor tubs, I'm absolutely sure by sealing both those huge holes w/ rigid foam board and further sealing w/ great stuff that I've made a lot of progress in sealing my house and reducing my energy costs.
I STRONGLY recommend everyone buy a bunch of caulk and great stuff (expanding foam), put on your mask and goggles and go to town sealing ANYTHING that penetrates your attic floor or crawl space "ceiling." It will be money/time well spent!

 

Don't spray foam or cover up non-IC potlights