One of the biggest threats to your roof during the winter is ice dams. If you’re looking for ice dam removal in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Jenks or Bixby, Turner Roofing is here to help. First, we have a few things we think you should know about ice dams.

How do ice dams form?

The short answer is heat. First, snow falls and collects on your roof. Then, the heat from inside the house melts the snow and the water slides down the pitch of the house towards the gutters. Lastly, the melted water pools near the roof edge and refreezes into ice causing the gutters to dam up. Hence the name: ice dams.

How do ice dams cause damage?

For starters, ice dams can make your roof leak. Water gets in the cracks of the roof’s exterior and works its way inside. Sometimes this can cause very subtle leaking, while other times, it can cause grab-the-pots-and-pans type of water leaking. Either way, it can cause water damage which can lead to mold and mildew.

What do I do if I need ice dam removal?

We think you should contact us. But don’t take our word for it; last year The Boston Globe wrote an article when the Northeast got hit with a big snow and ice storm. It  included an illustration from FEMA that shows how ice dams form, how they can be prevented and how to gauge the snow load (in weight terms) that might be sitting on top of your roof.

We’ve been an Oklahoma roofer for 50+ years. In that time, we’ve seen and heard of a lot of crazy things happening with people and their roof. This is especially true when people try to tackle a roof project on their own.  As the Boston Globe article states, a few cases of house fires even occurred when people attempted to remove the ice dams themselves. Yikes. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done, however, it can be very dangerous. Hiring a professional roofer like Turner Roofing is safer and more cost effective in the long term.

If you would like to know more about ice dam removal or prevention we’d be happy to talk more and answer any questions you may have.