Colorado Springs' freeze-thaw cycle — warm days followed by cold nights — creates ideal conditions for ice dam formation. Ice dams form when heat escaping through the roof melts snow, which then refreezes at the cold roof edge. The resulting ice dam traps water that can back up under shingles and into your home.

How Ice Dams Form in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs averages 57 inches of snow per year, with significant temperature swings. A warm sunny day can melt roof snow, which flows down to the cold eaves and refreezes. As the ice dam grows, it creates a reservoir of water behind it that has nowhere to go except under your shingles.

Signs of Ice Dam Water Damage

• Water stains on ceilings or walls near exterior walls
• Peeling paint on ceilings or walls
• Sagging or bubbling drywall
• Mold growth on ceiling or wall surfaces
• Icicles forming at roof edges (a warning sign)
• Ice visible at roof edges or in gutters

Preventing Ice Dams

• Improve attic insulation to reduce heat loss through the roof
• Improve attic ventilation to keep the roof deck cold
• Install heat cables at roof edges in problem areas
• Remove snow from the roof after heavy snowfall using a roof rake
• Seal air leaks between living space and attic

What to Do When Ice Dams Cause Water Damage

If you have water intrusion from an ice dam, call a water damage restoration company immediately. The water damage will continue until the ice dam is removed and the roof is repaired. We can begin extraction and drying while the roofing issue is being addressed.