Ice Dam and Roof Leak Water Damage in Anoka, MN

When water gets past the roof, it ends up in attic insulation, ceilings and exterior walls. We handle the interior water damage.

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How an ice dam causes water damage

An ice dam forms when heat escaping from the house melts snow on the upper roof. The meltwater runs down to the cold eave and refreezes into a ridge of ice. More meltwater pools behind that ridge, backs up under the shingles and leaks into the attic, ceilings and exterior walls.

Signs an ice dam is leaking inside

Water stains along the top of exterior walls or at the ceiling edge
Dripping around windows on the top floor
Peeling paint near the ceiling line
Icicles forming behind the gutter or coming through the soffit
Wet or matted insulation at the attic edges

Why ice dam damage is easy to underestimate

The water enters at the eave, which sits directly above the exterior wall. It runs down inside that wall, soaking insulation from the top. The stain you see at the ceiling line may be the smallest part. The wall cavity below it can be wet all the way to the floor.

Ice dams also leak slowly and repeatedly. Each warm afternoon adds more water, and the wall never gets a chance to dry before the next thaw.

Roof leaks in other seasons

Wind and hail from summer storms that lift or crack shingles
Flashing failures around chimneys, vents and skylights
Valleys where two roof planes meet
Aging shingles near the end of their life

A roof leak can travel along a rafter or truss and show up several feet from where it entered.

What we do

Check the attic. Wet insulation loses its insulating value and holds water against the ceiling. It is removed where saturated.
Measure ceilings and walls to find how far water travelled.
Open and dry affected cavities. See ceiling and wall water damage and structural drying.
Protect contents and flooring below active drips.
Document the interior damage.

What we do not do

Removing an ice dam from the roof and repairing shingles or flashing are jobs for a roofing contractor. Our work is the interior: drying and cleanup. Both are needed. If the leak is not stopped, the wall will get wet again.

Reducing ice dams

Seal air leaks from the house into the attic: around light fixtures, vents and the attic hatch.
Bring attic insulation up to current recommended levels.
Keep soffit and ridge vents clear so the roof deck stays cold.
Use a roof rake to pull snow off the lower few feet after heavy snowfall.
Do not chip at the ice with tools. It damages shingles.

More in the ice dam water intrusion guide.

Common questions

Does insurance cover ice dam water damage?

Interior damage from an ice dam is often covered under homeowners policies, while the cost of removing the ice dam itself may not be. Coverage varies, so confirm with your carrier and photograph both the ice and the interior damage.

Do you remove ice dams?

No. Ice dam removal and roof repair are roofing work. We handle the water damage inside: wet insulation, ceilings and walls. We can begin drying once the active leaking has stopped or been controlled.

Why did my ceiling leak when it was not raining?

In winter, a leak without rain usually means an ice dam or attic condensation. Sun or escaping heat melts snow on the roof, and that water backs up behind ice at the eave and gets under the shingles.

Can wet attic insulation be dried?

Lightly damp loose-fill may dry on its own with good ventilation. Saturated fiberglass batts and soaked cellulose do not dry well, lose their insulating value and are normally removed and replaced.

Water coming in from the roof?

Tell us which rooms are affected and whether it is still dripping.