So we’re having the worst winter, as far as snowfall, in the Northeast in a decade and I have ice problems (see photos). For the most part, I don’t have leaks because when I had a new roof put on a few years ago, I had them install a double row of ice and water shield. The area of most concern is where you can see the icicle coming out of the soffit and ice on the siding. I did have a small leak there at one window. I was up in the attic looking at this area and did see a little ice at the soffit but not
much, Which was a relief because I was expecting to see a lot of ice in the soffit and on the underside of the roof. I think there are two main problems. The obvious – lack of insulation – and the ridge vent being blocked. I’ve got a couple of questions on how to fix this problem.
Insulation – the attic is a full attic that is used for storage. The middle of the attic has plywood flooring. The joists are exposed from the soffit back about 8 feet to the edge of the flooring. There are propavents at the soffits. I can add insulation in the areas that are not covered by flooring but that still leaves a good area that needs more insulation. Can I also install propavents in the rafter bays from the soffit up to the ridge to maintain an air path and then insulate the roof between the rafters to add more insulation? I know that this isn’t as good as adding insulation
to the floor and I will still lose some heat from the house up the attic but at least it won’t reach the roof.
Ridge Vent – I don’t know. How can you keep a ridge vent from getting blocked in a heavy snowfall? Do you need to?
George
Replies
what's heating the porch roof?
Good question. I don't know why there should be melting there. The FHW radiator is on that wall in the rooms above the porch. I suppose it could be some heat transfer through that wall...or may it isn't melting so much but water dripping off the main roof and traveling down? This 2X6 framing by the way.
what's heating the porch roof?Looks like he just has a lot of melt water falling off that valley to the right of where he's dragged the snow off the roof over the door. Spray foam that baby next spring, you're loosing too much heat through the upper roof. ------------------
"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
Looks like classical ice damming combined with simple lack of guttering.
A lot of snow up there, and it sounds like you have a warm attic with little insulation. Plus any sun and you get melting. Then (especially in the areas that fall into shadows) ice will form farther down the roof and at the eaves. (Despite what some people claim, gutters will make the situation marginally better, not worse.)
You can insulate the floor or you can insulate the roof. You definitely need to do one or the other. Insulating all the way out to the eaves isn't as important as getting the upper 2/3rds of the roof well insulated.
Until then you can maybe use a snow rake to take down the worst of the snow and keep the problem under control.
(In answer to your query about ridge vents, snow on top of them has not been a problem in my experience. Generally the ridge stays relatively clear, and when it doesn't the heat from inside will rapidly melt an airway through.)
It looks typical to me too. The gutters just make ice damning damage more likely. No gutters helps to create those icycles. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Wheres the ice problems? I see a lot of pics of normal conditions.
We are having wind problems here. It was blowing 30 mph (gusts) and it made the 60 degree temps feel real breezy.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07