Every winter, we get dozens of calls from Cleveland homeowners dealing with ice dams — the thick ridges of ice that form along the eaves and cause water to back up under shingles. Ice dams are one of the most preventable causes of roof damage, but they require understanding why they form in the first place.
How Ice Dams Form
Ice dams form when heat escapes from your living space into the attic, warming the roof deck. Snow on the upper portion of the roof melts and flows down toward the cold eaves, where it refreezes. As this cycle repeats, a dam of ice builds up that can force water under shingles and into your home.
The root cause of ice dams is almost always inadequate attic insulation or ventilation — not the roof itself. Fixing the roof without addressing the underlying cause will result in ice dams returning every winter.
Prevention: The Right Approach
The only permanent solution to ice dams is improving your attic's thermal performance.
- Increase attic insulation to R-49 to R-60 (recommended for Cleveland's climate)
- Ensure proper attic ventilation (1 sq ft of ventilation per 150 sq ft of attic floor)
- Seal all air leaks between living space and attic (recessed lights, attic hatches, plumbing penetrations)
- Consider adding an ice and water shield membrane during your next roof replacement
Emergency Ice Dam Removal
If you already have an ice dam causing active leaking, you need to act quickly.
- Do NOT use a pick or ice chipper — this damages shingles
- Use calcium chloride ice melt (not rock salt) in a nylon stocking laid perpendicular to the dam
- Hire a professional with steam equipment for large dams
- Call a roofer to assess damage after the dam is removed
Never get on an icy roof. Ice dam removal is dangerous work. If the dam is large or causing active leaking, call a professional.
Dealing with ice dams this winter? Pring Roofing offers emergency ice dam removal and can assess whether your attic insulation and ventilation are contributing to the problem.
Shawn Stypa
Owner of Pring Roofing. Third-generation roofer with over 30 years of experience in residential and commercial roofing across Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.