Replies

1. 
   brisketbean_ | Mar 12, 1999 07:48am | #2

   *
   Richard;

   The problem your experiencing is caused by the location of your lot, solution would be to sell lot and move house 1000 miles south to a warmer lot. I never could figure out how they could sell those cold weather lots anyway.

   brisketbean

2. 
   Guest_ | Mar 12, 1999 08:32am | #3

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   It faces due South in summmer and winter. The sun starts hitting it at about 11:00am to about 4:00 pm
   in the winter.
   You are getting close, very close.
   By the way, the front roof w/ a dormer, narrower than the rear,and the same framing, venting,(none), and insulation system suffers NO ice dams, ever.

1. 
   Guest_ | Mar 13, 1999 12:05am | #4

   *Okay Richard your lot is short a tree and Fred is just short.During part of the day, some areas are starved for air and the little nooks and cranies interfere with average flow. Some areas in the mid afternoon would actually be quiet warm while on the same plane would be coming into contact with some very moist cold air.

1. 
   Guest_ | Mar 13, 1999 02:53am | #5

   *Counter intuitive thermal behaviour caused by the sun, screwing up all the theories.What do you say Richard?

1. 
   Guest_ | Mar 13, 1999 05:11am | #6

   *Rich,

   Attic ventilation is a "secondary system" to help prevent ice dams due to "small" warm air leaks into the attic space. If you have an ice dam problem, it's due to the fact that a "large" amount of hot air is melting the snow on the roof. You would need to find the source of this leak and seal it. This is a very simplistic answer to a problem that probably as many facets.

   Joseph FuscoView Image

1. 
   Guest_ | Mar 13, 1999 06:00am | #7

   *Gabe,

   I remember once when the architect asked the owner of the construction company I was working for at the time, why the roof had a 4" inch height difference in 22'? He looked him straight in the eyes and said. . . "field conditions".

   Joseph FuscoView Image

2. 
   Guest_ | Mar 13, 1999 06:32am | #8

   *Come on Joe, Richard gave out a scenerio for us to play detective with.What causes the difference between the two?

3. 
   Guest_ | Mar 13, 1999 08:10am | #9

   *Gabe,

   Well, outside solar radiation causes uniformed melting of the snow on most roofs. This is quite good for roofs. In my opinion, the one with the ice dam is just subjected to more heat gain from an attic bypass heating the sheathing causing the snow to melt.

   This is a hypotheses just like anyone else's. Without being there to inspect it, there really is no point to argue.

   Joseph FuscoView Image

3. 
   Guest_ | Mar 13, 1999 08:11am | #10

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   My gabled roof addition has 2 narrow eaves, w/ a large dormer between them that has some insulation between the rafters. The dormer is part of a 2nd fl.room. There are no vents anywhere at the eaves or ridge. One 18" rd. vent in dormer. Attic and dormer of addition are vented to main house attic w/2' sq. vent.(attic of addition is 300s.f.)Ice dams/ice sicles at eaves 8' l. x 3" dia.
   The roof on the main house is gabled, has a little (4-5" "rock wool")here and there in the attic(600s.f.) joist bays, and huge cracks at the eaves where the rafters meet the top plates. It has one 18" x 15" gable vent on one end and an old pull down attic stairs w/no weatherstripping. NO ICE DAMS AT ALL.Not even close.
   The one who comes up w/the winning answer as to why this is so will be proclaimed by me, ULTIMATE VENTILATION EXPERT, w/ all rights and privleges therein.

1. 
   Guest_ | Mar 11, 1999 06:42pm | #1

   *Richard, can you describe for me how your house and it's roof is positioned with relation to the sun at different times, morning sun, noon, afternoon.What parts are exposed first to the sun's radiation.