Ice Dam Removal

Ice dams start in the attic. Heat escaping from the living space warms the roof deck, the snow on the upper roof melts, and the meltwater runs downhill until it reaches the eave that hangs out past the heated walls. That overhang is as cold as the outdoors, so the water refreezes there. Every thaw and every sunny afternoon adds another layer, and the ridge of ice grows until water pools behind it.

Shingles are built to shed water running downhill, not to hold back a pond. Trapped water backs up under the shingle courses and finds its way into soffits, the tops of exterior walls and ceilings, which is why ice dam leaks show up in rooms that never leak in a summer rain. The calls usually start after a deep cold stretch followed by sun or a thaw.

Older homes with lower-pitched roofs and limited attic ventilation are the most prone, which is why we see so many ice dams in older St. Cloud neighborhoods like Pantown and the Southside. Removing the ice handles this week. Preventing the next one means fixing why it formed: heat loss into the attic, ventilation that does not keep the deck cold, gutters that hold ice, and missing or short ice barrier at the eaves.

Ice dam removal is quoted after we see the roof, because the price depends on how long and thick the dam is, the pitch and height of the roof, and how much ice is packed in the gutters. Leak repairs are quoted separately, in writing, once the damage can be seen. No phone guesses and no open-ended hourly billing.

If the inspection shows the roof itself is at the end of its life, replacement is the real fix. Minnesota code requires an ice barrier extending at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line on a replacement, and our Essentials package starts from $12,838 with a full tear-off and that code-required ice barrier. You get your exact number within 24 hours. Insurance coverage for ice dam water damage depends on your policy, and we photograph the roof side so you have documentation for your agent.