A new roof can still develop ice dams when the conditions beneath it remain unchanged. Before paying for another round of repairs, ask for an inspection that separates the roof's ability to keep water out from the reasons ice keeps forming.
That starts with the last roofing contract, photographs from this winter, and a clear description of what happened. An ice ridge with no indoor leak, a wet ceiling, and a loose gutter deserve different conversations. These six questions will help you arrange the right investigation for your Minnesota home.
1. What problem did the replacement contract actually cover?
Find your signed proposal, change orders, completion photos, and warranty documents. Highlight every reference to decking, flashing, ventilation, underlayment, insulation, and attic work. Leave a blank beside anything the contract does not address.
Check whether the proposal covers only exterior roofing or also describes air sealing or an attic retrofit. Ask the original contractor to explain the completed scope in ordinary language. If the salesperson discussed ice dams, look for how that discussion became part of the written work.
Avoid assuming that recurring ice proves poor installation. Equally, do not accept “that's normal in Minnesota” as a complete explanation for a new leak. Request a review of the roof details and the conditions contributing to the problem.
Save the contractor's response with the original documents. If further work is recommended, you will be able to compare the proposed fix with what you already purchased.
2. Did the ice return in the same places?
Create a simple roof sketch from memory or a ground-level photograph. Label the driveway, front door, and backyard so everyone uses the same directions. Mark where you remember ice before the roof replacement and where you see it now.
Record observations separately from conclusions. “Ice above the kitchen window” is useful. “Bad insulation above the kitchen” is an unconfirmed diagnosis. Also note whether that part of the home has a flat ceiling, vaulted ceiling, skylight, or addition.
University of Minnesota Extension explains that ice dams develop where roof temperatures differ, allowing snow to melt higher up and refreeze near colder edges. Heat escaping from the home can contribute.
Your sketch helps the inspector connect a specific roof area with the room beneath it. A recurring location is a useful lead; it still needs investigation. Photograph from safe ground, away from falling ice, and let professionals handle access.
3. Where is the water entering, if there is a leak?
Ask for two locations on the inspection report: the visible indoor damage and the suspected exterior entry area. If the entry point is still uncertain, the report should say so and explain what access or conditions would help confirm it.
Have the contractor review the eave protection, nearby roof transitions, and flashing relevant to that area. Ask what could be inspected now and what remains concealed by snow, ice, or finished surfaces. A report that distinguishes visible evidence from an informed possibility is more useful than a confident guess.
DOE's guidance on sealed eaves describes membrane protection against water backing up beneath shingles. That protection serves a different purpose from controlling heat escaping through the ceiling.
Request photographs with locations identified. If a repair is proposed, ask the contractor to connect each repair item to a finding. “Repair the leaking valley flashing” gives you something concrete to review; “winterize roof” needs more detail.
4. Has anyone tested for heat loss through the ceiling?
If the roof review leaves the cause unresolved, ask about a separate assessment by a qualified home energy professional. Tell the assessor that the main concern is repeated icing, and send the roof sketch before the appointment.
DOE's consumer guide to home energy assessments explains how blower-door testing and infrared scans can help evaluate air leakage and heat loss. Ask which tests suit your home and what weather or access conditions they require.
Request findings by location. You want to know whether a recommended improvement concerns the attic hatch, ceiling penetrations, an inaccessible sloped ceiling, or another part of the building. Ask for the evidence supporting that recommendation and the areas the assessor could not inspect.
Also ask who will assess ventilation and combustion safety if air sealing is proposed. Keep this work in the hands of qualified professionals rather than experimenting with sealing materials around lights, chimneys, or mechanical equipment yourself.
5. Were insulation and ventilation evaluated as separate parts of the work?
“We added insulation” does not tell you whether someone checked for air leakage first. DOE's existing-attic guidance calls for sealing attic-floor openings before adding insulation in vented attics. Ask whether the proposed work follows that sequence and how completion will be documented.
For ventilation, request an explanation specific to the existing roof. Where does outdoor air enter? Where does it leave? What prevents insulation from blocking the intended path? You do not need to calculate the system yourself; ask the contractor to describe the design and applicable requirements.
Be cautious about approving a single product as the answer before those questions are addressed. A new vent, another layer of insulation, or an added membrane may each have a role. The proposal should explain which finding the item addresses and which remaining issue requires another trade.
6. How will everyone know whether the repair worked?
Agree on the follow-up before authorizing additional work. Ask what will be photographed during installation, whether any diagnostic tests will be repeated, and whom to contact if water returns.
Keep a short record through the next periods of snow and thaw. Compare observations without expecting two winters to behave identically. Record indoor leaks, new stains, and the locations of visible ice. Avoid judging the entire repair from one photograph of icicles.
Bring this page to the inspection
Fill in these lines and give the same information to each professional:
- Previous roof work: date, contractor, and work listed in the contract.
- Current symptom: ice only, active leak, old stain, or damaged exterior component.
- Location: roof sketch reference and room below.
- First noticed: date and whether snow or thaw was present.
- Investigation needed: roof details, heat-loss assessment, or both.
- Completion evidence requested: labeled photos, written findings, and follow-up contact.
Request a roof inspection from Committed 365 Roofing and mention that the icing returned after a replacement. Bring the earlier proposal so the roof review starts with the work already completed.