Temporary dam removal
Clearing a dam that threatens the interior is the immediate step. It buys time and stops water going into the walls, but it does not stop the next dam from forming if the attic is still warm.
Serving Kenosha County
Ice Dam Removal and Prevention in Kenosha
Removing ice dams safely and fixing the attic heat that causes them on Kenosha houses after lake-effect winters.
- Repairs, leaks and full tear-offs
- Ice dams, lake-effect snow and wind damage
- Kenosha, Racine and northern Lake County, IL
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 751-2102. Or send this and we call you back.
Ice Dams
Ice Dam Removal & Prevention: what it covers
Quick answer
An ice dam is a ridge of ice at the eave that traps meltwater under the shingles. Attic heat that melts snow on the roof, then refreezes at the cold edge, causes most of them. In Kenosha the fix is to remove the dam safely and then air-seal, insulate and ventilate the attic. Kenosha Roofing connects homeowners with a local technician.
An ice dam forms at the cold edge of a roof. Snow on the upper slope melts from the heat leaking out of the house, the water runs down to the eave, and there it freezes into a ridge that holds back the next melt. Meltwater then sits behind the ridge, finds its way under the shingles and into the house.
In Kenosha the cycle repeats every winter the lake delivers a heavy snow followed by a warm spell. Each thaw adds water to the dam and each freeze builds it higher, so a house that gets one dam usually gets another unless the attic is changed.
This page covers removing an existing dam without damaging the roof, and the attic work that stops the next one. Calls to Kenosha Roofing are answered around the clock, and a local technician confirms the work and the price on site.
- Service area
- Kenosha & Kenosha County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7, storm nights included
- Phone
- (833) 751-2102
Warning signs
Signs you need ice dam removal & prevention
Do not climb a ladder onto an icy roof, and do not chip a dam with a metal tool or a hatchet. Keep people and pets away from the eave while ice is falling. If icicles or a dam sit above a door or a walkway, close it off until they are cleared, and call (833) 751-2102 for a safe removal.
- A thick ridge of ice along the eave, taller than the gutter line
- Icicles hanging from the eave that grow longer after each thaw
- Water stains on the ceiling or the wall along an outside edge after a warm spell
- Snow that melts off the upper roof while the eave stays covered
- Paint bubbling or peeling on the inside of an exterior wall near the top floor
- Frost or wet insulation on the underside of the roof sheathing in the attic
Our process
How our ice dam removal & prevention visit works
Check the attic before anything on the roof
The attic shows where the heat is coming from. Frost on the sheathing, warm spots near recessed lights and gaps around the chimney or pipes tell the technician where the house is losing heat to the roof.
Remove the dam from the ground or a safe reach
Where the dam is a serious threat, it is cleared from a safe position using tools that do not damage the shingles. The aim is to open a channel for the meltwater, not to chip the whole ridge away.
Air-seal the openings from the attic side
Gaps around the top-plate, wiring holes, light fixtures and the attic hatch are sealed so warm indoor air stops rising into the space under the roof.
Add insulation and balance the ventilation
Insulation is brought up to the depth the attic needs, and the intake and exhaust vents are checked so cold air moves freely across the underside of the roof and keeps the deck near outdoor temperature.
What causes an ice dam on a Kenosha roof?
Heat from inside the house warms the roof deck, snow melts on the upper slope and runs down, and the water freezes where the eave is cold. University extension guidance on ice dams identifies that heat loss as the driver, which is why the attic is the place to fix it.
The roof edge overhangs the wall and is not heated, so it stays at outdoor temperature while the upper roof does not. The gap between those two temperatures is where the ice forms.
Snow that sits on a warm deck can melt on a cold day and refreeze at night, and each cycle adds a layer of ice. Meltwater that cannot drain sits behind the dam and works its way under the shingles and along the nail lines.
Shovelling snow off the eave treats the symptom, not the cause. The roof will melt again unless the heat reaching it is reduced.
Is it safe to chip ice off a roof?
Not from a ladder, and not with an axe, shovel or metal bar. Those tools cut shingles and crack the flashing, and a fall from a ladder on ice is a serious injury. Remove a dam only from a safe position, with tools that do not damage the covering.
Most dam removal is done from the ground, where a technician can reach the eave without leaning on the gutters or the edge of the roof. The goal is a channel through the dam, not the clearing of the whole run.
Heat cables can help in some cases, but they are a short-term measure and need to be installed and used with care. A cable that is wrongly placed can make the dam worse by melting a path that refreezes under the shingles.
What does a lasting ice dam fix involve?
The lasting fix is in the attic: air-seal the openings that let warm air up, bring the insulation to depth, and make sure the vents move cold air across the underside of the deck. Those steps keep the roof edge near outdoor temperature so the snow stays put until it can drain.
Air sealing comes first. Warm air leaks through the top-plate, around wiring holes, through fixtures and around the attic hatch, and sealing those points stops heat reaching the sheathing from below.
Insulation is the second step. It slows heat that gets past the seals and keeps the attic floor from becoming a heat source. The depth needed depends on the attic, and the technician checks it on the visit.
Ventilation is the last step. Intake at the soffit and exhaust near the ridge let cold air sweep the underside of the deck, and a blocked soffit undoes the rest of the work.
- Seal the top-plate and wiring penetrations from the attic side
- Bring insulation up to depth and keep it off the soffit vents
- Confirm the intake and exhaust vents move air freely
Options
Types and options for ice dam removal & prevention
Attic air sealing and insulation
This is the lasting fix. Sealing the top of the walls and the penetrations, and bringing the insulation up to depth, cuts the heat that melts the snow in the first place.
Ventilation correction
Soffit intake and ridge or other exhaust vents let the cold air flow under the deck. Where the vents are blocked by insulation or nothing exists, the attic cannot hold the roof at a steady temperature.
Kenosha County
Why ice dam removal & prevention is different in Southeastern Wisconsin and northern Lake County, IL
Kenosha's ice dams follow the lake. The shoreline gets heavy lake-effect snow in some winters, and the snow that sits on a house near the water goes through repeated thaws and freezes before spring.
The contrast inland matters too. A narrow lake-effect band can drop a large amount of snow on the shore while towns a few miles inland get much less, so a house that has ice dams in one year may be quiet the next.
Need ice dam removal & prevention today?
Call any hour and explain what is going on. You get a clear price before any work starts.
Where we work
Ice Dam Removal & Prevention across Kenosha County
- Ice Dams in Kenosha
- Ice Dams in Pleasant Prairie
- Ice Dams in Carol Beach
- Ice Dams in Somers
- Ice Dams in Winthrop Harbor
- Ice Dams in Sturtevant
- Ice Dams in Mount Pleasant
- Ice Dams in Zion
- Ice Dams in Racine
- Ice Dams in Bristol
- Ice Dams in Union Grove
- Ice Dams in Paddock Lake
- Ice Dams in Waukegan
- Ice Dams in Salem Lakes
- Ice Dams in Gurnee
- Ice Dams in Lake Villa
- Ice Dams in Camp Lake
- Ice Dams in Trevor
- Ice Dams in Caledonia
- Ice Dams in Antioch
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Related
Related services
Attic Ventilation & Insulation
Air sealing, insulation and ventilation for Kenosha attics, the work behind both winter ice dams and summer attic heat.
Roof Leak Repair
Finding and fixing the entry point of a roof leak on Kenosha houses, including the eaves, valleys, chimneys and wall joints where Lake Michigan weather gets in.
Roof Snow Removal
Clearing heavy lake-effect snow from Kenosha roofs safely, from the eave and the lower slope, without damaging the covering.
Gutter Installation & Repair
Installing and repairing gutters and downspouts on Kenosha houses, where ice and meltwater at the eaves test every run.
Guides
Read before you book
Ice Dams in Kenosha: Causes and Cures
An ice dam forms when heat from the house melts snow on the roof, and the meltwater refreezes at the cold eave and backs up under the shingles.
Lake-Effect Snow and Your Kenosha Roof
Lake-effect snow along the Kenosha shore reached 10 to 16 inches in February 2021, while towns inland got much less.
A Year of Roof Work in Kenosha
Kenosha's roof stress follows the dated record: spring and summer wind and tree-fall storms, autumn wind lines and the first lake-effect bands, and winter snow and ice dams from the thaw-refreeze cycle.
FAQ
Ice Dam Removal & Prevention FAQs
Does an ice dam always mean the roof is failing?
No. Most ice dams come from heat loss through the attic rather than from a worn-out roof. The fix is usually in the attic, and the roof only needs repair where water has already got under the covering.
Can I use a roof rake to prevent ice dams?
A roof rake can clear snow from the lower slope and reduce the load, but it treats the symptom. Snow will melt again on a warm attic roof, so the attic work is what prevents the dam from forming.
Are heat cables a good solution?
They can help in a few cases, but they are a temporary measure. A poorly placed cable can melt a channel that refreezes under the shingles, so they are best treated as a supplement to the attic fix.
Why do ice dams in Kenosha come back after a repair?
They come back when the attic still leaks heat or lacks ventilation. A repair at the eave that does not address the attic leaves the same heat source in place, and the next thaw starts the cycle again.