Icicles are winters way of letting you know where your water pools and where you may want to consider deterring some of it and mitigating problems. Large formations more than a couple inches thick can lift shingles and find their way down to the structure. This can become more evident when there has been snow and freezing temperatures for a few weeks or more.
Temperature fluctuation on the underside of the roofing membrane can cause moisture and condensation. When this accrues this can cause a host of issues such as ponding, rot, and mildew or mold. Removing ice from the roofs edge can be dangerous and even deadly. “Dams” are made by snow and ice thawing and refreezing lower down the roof and can become quite large and expansive. There are several issues that can cause this phenomenon; such as, heat sources in the attic, poor insulation, improper air barriers, along with a few uncommon situations.
While fixing the issue can sound very simple making it happen can be quite the undertaking. Especially if your home is older and has no air barriers, air sealing requires detail and attention during constructions and design that was unavailable 100 years ago and is still commonly overlooked. It can still be mitigated and fixed even in older homes. If you think you have a problem and need further assistance contact us or a qualified professional near you.