How to Prevent Ice Buildup on Your Roof

Winter is coming, and you know exactly what that means. Soon your driveway, your car, and your rooftop will be covered in snow and ice.

Preventing ice buildup on your roof (also known as an ice dam) is a key component of your winter home care regimen. Doing so can prevent long-term damage and prolong the longevity of your home and roof.

Here are a few ways to prevent ice buildup on your roof.

Remove Snow from Your Roof

It is best to clear the snow off your roof with a hand-held roof rake immediately after a snowfall when the snow is still soft and flakey. Alternatively, you can also melt the snow on your rooftop by using Calcium Chloride (also known as “snow melter”). These two snow removal methods can help you avoid potentially sticky situations of climbing on your roof to shovel it off yourself.

Insulation

Installing thicker insulation on the underside of your roof can help prevent the buildup of ice dams. You can consult with a roofing professional like Style Roofing to help you weatherize and seal your roof from any air leaks. Our professionals will inspect your roof to determine whether your roofing insulation is secure enough to prevent the build-up of ice dams and advise you on the proper ventilation system you need between the insulation and the roof sheathing for your home.

Without the proper insulation, you will experience cooler temperatures, higher energy bills, and more than a few unhappy family members. Your insulation should be applied by a professional and inspected twice per year when the hot and cold seasons strike. If your home has the proper insulation already installed, you can promote additional insulation support by sealing your windows with a plastic covering or checking on the rubber linings of your doors. When you want to keep the cold at bay, these are some of the best things you can do to stay comfortable this winter.

Roof Maintenance

Before the winter and its snow arrive, you need to inspect your roof thoroughly for any leaks. Look out for spots that may feel wet or cold to touch and for holes in the waterproofing and insulation. Having your roof professionally inspected and serviced before winter arrives can help you repair any holes before they are filled with snow. This preventative step is very important as it can potentially save you from thousands of dollars’ worth of damage caused by ice dams to your roof and your home.

Install De-Icing Cables

Consider installing de-icing cables on your roof to prevent ice dams from forming over the eves of your roof. You can purchase de-icing cables from any big box home improvement store such as Home Depot or Lowes. They range in price from $30 – $250 and are designed to go over the top of your shingles via clips over the eaves of your roof. Make sure to keep an eye out for them when raking fresh snow off your roof so you don’t dislodge them. Luckily, they are easily visible.

Maintain Your Roof Year-Round

While it’s helpful to know how to prevent ice buildup in the winter, proper roof maintenance is equally about what you do during the rest of the year. It all starts with a professional roof inspection to make sure your roof is structurally sound and healthy, and free of any holes or potential problems.

Get Your Free Roof Replacement Estimate

When it comes to roofing in Northern Virginia – Style Roofing is the top choice. Get your free roofing estimate today on residential or commercial attic insulation services, ventilation services, or a professional roof inspection.

Customer Testimonials

Thank you for doing a very good job, in a timely way and for leaving the site in a very good condition.

Eleanor Fusaro

Dear Mr. Rafferty- I am very pleased with the roofing work you recently did on my home. Our company does outstanding work at a fair price, and my wife and I found Javier and your crew courteous, professional, hard-working and excellent craftsmen. I have taken the liberty of recommending Style Roofing to several of my […]

Scott A. K.

Dear Mr. Rafferty- My husband joins me in thanking you for completing the job of replacing our roof with speed, efficiency and professionalism. As I explained to you on the phone, we had difficulty finding a company even willing to provide us with an estimate. In today’s world there are few services offered with the […]

Susan and Arthur A.

Thank you for the speed at which you were able to schedule the work to be done, as well as the efficiency in actually replacing the roof! It looks great and your presence was barely detected!

Andrew R.

My wife and I were very impressed with the quality and timeliness of your work. Your work crew showed when they said they would, did the job in short order and to a high standard, and then cleaned up after they left. I would highly recommend your company to anyone who asks me. You all […]

John and Elizabeth W.

Dear Mr. Rafferty- The roof looks great, you are to be commended on the professional process and appearance. The crew did a fine job of cleaning up as there was no debris left lying around. The roof went up extremely fast, the crew began around 7:00 AM removing the existing roof and by 1:00 PM […]

Bryan & Evelyn R.

Thank you for a wonderful job. You were fast and efficient. It looks great!

Glennie R.

Dear Mr. Rafferty- As I said on the phone, we are extremely pleased with the job. The work was performed in a professional manner, the roof and trim look great, the job site was left cleaner than when you found it, and, of course, the roof doesn’t leak. Please feel free to use us as […]

James and Anne Marie Sh.

Dear Bill- Thank you so much for the excellent job you did on the roof etc. I think my neighbors are enjoying the change in scenery more than I am. Happy Holiday Season!

Audrey J.

We are so happy with the new roof!! Thanks for adding the finishing touches – turbine painted and antenna removed. Those finishing touches mean a lot!

Kelly R.

I wish to thank you for a good job on replacing our shingles and fixing the roof. The men were fast and knew exactly what to do. The clean up was also good. Thanks again for a very sufficient and good job, it’s appreciated.

The Finchams

Dear Bill- Just a note to thank you, your crew and Style Roofing for the outstanding job done on our new roof. Everything was excellent, from removal, replacement and most of all the clean up of debris. The speed and professionalism of your crew needs to be commended to the highest degree. I would have […]

Ann S.

Dear Mr. Rafferty- On behalf of the Board of Directors, volunteers, and families of Fauquier Habitat for Humanity, I would like to thank you for providing your services to install shingles at lot 14 in Botha Village. With the assistance of volunteers and contributors like you, Habitat is succeeding in its efforts to provide housing […]

Jack Flikeid, Executive Director

Dear Mr. Rafferty- We want to thank you for the excellent job you did no the roofing of the three condominium units. The work was done quickly and professionally. The type of material you recommended looks great.

Bill W.

Dear Mr. Rafferty- Thank you very much for your superior service to us regarding our new roof. It was truly a pleasure to be served by excellence! Above and beyond!

Margi G.

Bill- Excellent work. Please give your crew my compliments for a job well done. They were extremely efficient, completing the roof quickly, cleaning up and moving on as unobtrusively as they arrived. Both days your crew cleaned all debris from their work extremely well, including removing materials unavoidably trapped by trees in the back yard. […]

James

Bill- Thank you and your staff for doing such a wonderful job on our roof. We are very pleased with the quality of your work – it looks great!

Thank you, the Sanfords

I wanted to write to tell you how much we enjoyed working with your company. All the work was excellent quality, you were very responsive and the crews were very nice people. The clean up was great. If we can ever be a reference for you please feel free to give our names and number.

Jacky and Steve M.

I want to thank you for the excellent work that you did on my house and the other two townhouses that you re-roofed in my neighborhood. Your work is very impressive. You finished three roofs in one day! That is really remarkable and very much to your credit. Clearly you know how to manage projects! […]

Mary R.

Thanks again for the great service & quick turn around. We’re very happy to have the new roof before all the spring rain. You’re welcome to add us to your reference list.

Wendy

We are so pleased with our new and much improved roof! We would like to thank you for the outstanding job and your impeccable craftsmanship. We will happily refer your company to friends and neighbors. Here’s to your continued success!

Robin and Michael