If you are tired of dealing with winter weather problems around your home you are not alone. Those who live in climates with long cold winters get worn out by the end of the season battling common problems. Unfortunately, there is little you can do about certain issues like shoveling and heating your home. In other cases though, problems can be prevented. Roofers and those who work on patio enclosures can help you eliminate the problem of ice dams from your home. This is not an ongoing problem, but a few times each decade, the winter is bad enough to see ice damming problems. This can cause severe damage to your home, so knowing how to prevent and eliminate them is an important part of owning a home in a climate that gets cold weather.

An ice dam is formed when the gutter system fills with moisture and the moisture freezes. This forms a dam at the eave. As additional moisture piles up, it is unable to run off into the gutter because it is backed up with the ice. Essentially, a dam is formed where the gutter system is. The moisture becomes a frozen layer under the shingles and can back up as far as the peak if left untreated. It can also lead to leaking inside of the home.

A home can leak when the warm interior home hits the frozen ice of the dam. In some cases, leaking also begins when the temperature begins to rise. Heated air from inside leaks through the shingles and warms the underside of the building and the dam. When the top part of the ice stays frozen, but the underside begins to melt, the water runs down between the shingles. There is no escape for the water other than to back up into your home. It seeps into the attic and creates moisture in the space, which can eventually lead to mold and mildew.

In addition to mold and mildew, damming can also cause paint to peel inside and outside of the home. Though you eventually need to repaint anyway, ice damming speeds the process and shortens the life of the pain. Gutter and fascia can also be damaged by damming. In severe cases, damming can cause structural damage. The weight of the dam pulls on the structure and if heavy enough, can cause collapse.

Shingles do not keep water out when damming occurs because the water seeps back under the shingles. Shingle systems are designed to channel water away from high points of the structure to the lower sections. In an ideal situation, it is whisked into the gutter system. The shingles are not designed to hold water or to prevent water from seeping; they are only designed to aid in the run off process. Learning to prevent damming during the winter months can save you a lot of heartache when it comes to expensive home repairs. If you live in a climate that is prone to bitter winter temperatures, make sure you understand how to deal with damming problems before they begin.Ellie Lewis has called on the expertise of Dayton roofers for a home remodel she and her husband are doing. She hired Dayton patio enclosures experts to update their sunroom.

For more information about roofers go to
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Author Bio: Ellie Lewis has called on the expertise of Dayton roofers for a home remodel she and her husband are doing. She hired Dayton patio enclosures experts to update their sunroom.

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