Off Topic: Ice Dam

[billski]

How do you know when to take the calcium chloride socks off? Or can I just leave them on? I know the drainage is going to freeze over after dark if I take them out, but am I obstructing drainage? Or do I take them off at some point and put them back on?

 

[eclaire]

Bill,
We've just left ours on. They've frozen into the dam so we couldn't get them out if we tried. We just added new stockings yesterday next to the old ones, that had filled in. Not sure if this is actually the correct way to do it but it seems to be working for us.

claire

 

[jaja111]

On the ice melter type issue - be aware that the new fad in ice melting is the addition of molasses or beet sugar into the mix. It further lowers the freezing temp and causes the the melt to "stick" to surfaces better. I can't see this being good for roofing material. Pure CaCl has to be the best (or rather - least worse). Truth be told, no ice melter is harmless to the structure (or the concrete walkway, or the driveway, or the road, etc.)

Another thing that I have found when actually removing the ice, as I had to due to neglected gutter cleaning duties prior to the first snowfall / freeze, using an air hammer is the shiznit. A pointed tip or chisel is useless but a blunt or flat end is excellent. It just blasts away the ice fracturing it deeply. Cheap tool if you already have an air compressor and enough hose line. Like others have said, the ice is just gonna come back. However if you have 6 tons of ice and can't see your gutter or structure being able to support that kind of load, it should be removed periodically. I'll be doing all sorts of gutter repair this spring.

 

[billski]

Bill,
We've just left ours on. They've frozen into the dam so we couldn't get them out if we tried. We just added new stockings yesterday next to the old ones, that had filled in. Not sure if this is actually the correct way to do it but it seems to be working for us.

claire

thanks Clair. I was concerned it would block the channel. I ripped them out with a rake and the cacl scattered where it may.
Ps I found a source for cacl here in no vt. Pm me before eight am mon and I'll see what I can bring back to Boston.
The builder on this old house says paper bags work as good as stockings.

 

[Glenn]

We got home last night just before 10PM...I heard a sound I haven't heard in quite awhile...water running down the gutter. So the warm weather really helped things yesterday.

 

[billski]

I think we may finally have it under control. 50 lbs of CaCl later, my roof looks like a series of sluices. It's not completely stopped but down from half-hour mop ups to minor seepage. Shoveled the roof again this AM. Yesterday's warm-up, while I skied seems to have helped significantly. But with all these storms that just keep coming, I'll stay a little apprehensive.

 

[drjeff]

I broke shovel #2 of the season yesterday

 

[billski]

I learned a new ladder trick today. When up on the ladder at the roof level admiring our lovely ice dams, the base of the ladder slipped as the ice/snow settled further. I fell backwards and my feet were caught on the ladder rungs. I was hanging upside down. I quickly understood what use stomach crunches are! A few scrapes later and I'm good for skiing on Sunday!

 

[Warp Daddy]

I learned a new ladder trick today. When up on the ladder at the roof level admiring our lovely ice dams, the base of the ladder slipped as the ice/snow settled further. I fell backwards and my feet were caught on the ladder rungs. I was hanging upside down. I quickly understood what use stomach crunches are! A few scrapes later and I'm good for skiing on Sunday!

Bill -----------------b careful man ----- geez you DON"T need another bad fall -- glad u r OK

But chill Bill , it Ain't worth it, that 's what homeowners Ins . is for

 

[Euler]

I learned a new ladder trick today. When up on the ladder at the roof level admiring our lovely ice dams, the base of the ladder slipped as the ice/snow settled further. I fell backwards and my feet were caught on the ladder rungs. I was hanging upside down. I quickly understood what use stomach crunches are! A few scrapes later and I'm good for skiing on Sunday!

Holy chit! That could have quickly put an end to your ski season. On TGR they're worrying about sketchy terrain and avalanche danger. Over here we just fall off ladders

 

[billski]

Thanks for the support guys. I'm just that sort of person. We already have an insurance claim in, it's into the five figures. I don't do much other than throw nylons full of CaCl up there and dig out fire hydrants. What do they say, most accidents occur within five miles of home? I guess I should go as far away as possible!

Now, don't go tellin' my wife on me... That would definitely put an end to the season...

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

anyway to prevent ice dams?? go gutterless?? remove leaf guards? place socks in the gutters before the snow.ice..

 

[billski]

anyway to prevent ice dams?? go gutterless?? remove leaf guards? place socks in the gutters before the snow.ice..

None of that will work. You gotta keep your roof cold - ventilation and insulation.

 

[o3jeff]

anyway to prevent ice dams?? go gutterless?? remove leaf guards? place socks in the gutters before the snow.ice..

Remove the snow from the roof after it snows, or at least the bottom few feet that you can reach.

 

[noski]

None of that will work. You gotta keep your roof cold - ventilation and insulation.

+1, and rake off snow from edges of your roof whenever you can. I have the interior damage to back that up... this summer the attic gets stripped of dead insulation, receives blown-in cellulose and better ventilation.

 

[billski]

Remove the snow from the roof after it snows, or at least the bottom few feet that you can reach.

I found the hard way that is very dangerous. It just pushed the ice dam further up the roof, and still wicked under the shingles, making even more of the house leak.

 

[skijay]

Here is what my contractor did for me back in 2001 when the roof was replaced:

1. My attic was not properly vented thus causing the shingles to curl. In 12 yrs the addition's curled and where the original 21 year old shingles were also curling but not as bad.
2. My roof contractor used a 6 foot ice and water barrier where 3 feet is the code. He said that this is what he does for all of the homes he shingles. I do have a ranch with 4 foot overhangs. He also put drip edging around the entire perimeter. I did get ridge vents across the entire house (both sections). I do have a small (by today's McMansion standards) 2000 Sq Ft ranch.
3. I do have an ice dam on the north side that is about 2 feet up the shingles, so far no leaks. I think that is normal back there as I usually have the ice like this but never saw how far it crept up the roof until this season when I shoveled it and noticed it. The front of my house had no ice damming, even before I shoveled the 2+ feet of snow.
4. The trade off to a well insulated house & properly ventilated attic = the snow does not melt= mass weight up there=me taking a day off from work to shovel.