To take a more pro active approach in preventing ice dams you can install ice belt metal panels which are installed along the eaves to block water.
Metal roof valley ice dam.
Or plan for a roof ice melt system to be used.
Even on a metal roof keeping valleys eaves and gutters clear can only be achieved by keeping the refreeze from occurring by keeping the melt liquefied and allowing it to get off the roof and then too the ground.
That s even more of a problem in roof valleys because there s more snow in your valleys.
Ask this old house general contractor tom silva explains the best ways to keep your roof and gutters free from those dreaded ice dams.
If you do not want to install an entire new metal roof you can put metal only where it is really needed to prevent ice dams along the eaves.
That extra bit r value from the snow can make a big difference.
Heat tape metal roofs.
So if you have a choice and if ice dams are a big concern look for a home without many valleys on the roof or any valleys at all.
Stop ice dams with a cold roof.
Ice belt metal panels are typically short 3 4 and wide 2 5 3 and are made of thin gauge aluminum.
Ice dams and icicles form when the snow melts runs down your roof and refreezes near the edge.
This only occurs when part of your roof warms to above 32 degrees f warm enough to melt the snow while the roof edge remains below freezing.
Ice belt metal panels many roofs are made of shingles which work well to remove water until it starts to travel upward.
See below for a shopp.
This scenario is often the result of a warm attic.
It spreads the heat across a 1 5 or 3 wide cable which creates a wide melt path for snow melt water to prevent ice dam formations it is recommended that hot valley be used in combination with any hotedge roof edge ice melt system.
Another option to consider is a metal roof.
Most insulation has an r value of 2 2 to 3 8.
Unique heat tape cable systems for the roof valley and the roof flashing on metal roofs.
Heat cable ul listed to prevent ice dams.
This is the single biggest reason why homeowners contact wisconsin ice dam solutions with metal roof and ice dam problems.
When valleys and other problem areas exist on a home it is imperative that the proper underlayments be used to prevent water leaking in from ice dams.
This is called ice belt metal panels.
The hotvalley roof ice melt system track holds a single or double run of ul listed self regulating heat cable.