0

Background - I have a house with a standard shingle roof. Living in New England, my neighbors and I have had issues with ice damming. 2 of my nearby neighbors have replaced roofs over the last year, and this past winter, they were out with ladders pulling snow off the roof. And they told me they still have ice damming.

There is a product called Interlock, an aluminum tile that connects to its neighbor on all 4 sides. While it's about double the cost of the asphalt shingle roof, it looks like a potential solution to our awful New England weather.

Before we make a decision, I'm hoping to find either confirmation this will solve our issues or a better solution. Happy to update with any missing details. (Note, we met with the salesman today, and should have referrals to local homes that have had this installed in the recent few years)

Edit - I understand the comments regarding the nature of damming. When there's snow on roof, but the outside temperature rises to say, 40F, the attic, well vented, is 40F as well. The snow touching the roof has the opportunity to melt, and this is the cycle causing the damming. So my quest has moved towards finding a physical barrier impervious to the effect of this cycle.

Aside from the roofing material described above, I was considering insulating the attic. Instead of insulating between main house and attic, to use closed cell foam insulation sprayed on to attic ceiling, which would keep roof cold far better than current method.

Improve this question
4
  • 2
    Ice damning is caused by an insufficiently insulated attic space or an improperly vented attic space . Changing the roofing material to another roofing product does nothing to solve the heat buildup in the attic space that causes the ice damning.
    – Alaska Man
    Apr 19, 2017 at 0:32
  • Soffits are vented and there's ridge venting. Attic unfinished, with fiberglass insulation between joists. Not sure how we'd get attic any colder in winter.
    – JTP - Apologise to Monica
    Apr 19, 2017 at 0:38
  • If you're getting ice damning it's not cold enough. Air in the attic space is warming the roof thereby melting the snow on the roof causing it to run down to the eve which is cold because it is not over the attic space, where the water freezes causing an ice dam.
    – Alaska Man
    Apr 19, 2017 at 3:40
  • The problem is not when the outside temp is 40F, it's when the outside temp is 30F but the attic temp is 40F due to poor insulation allowing the warm air from the conditioned space to escape. This warms the bottom layer of snow / ice on the roof, causing it to melt, and run down to the eave, where there is no attic. It then (re)freezes, causing ice dams and icicles. If the OAT is 40F, the melted snow won't refreeze when it gets to the eave.
    – mmathis
    Apr 19, 2017 at 12:55

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

No, interlocking tiles will not prevent nor prevent the damage caused by ice dams.

Ice dams are caused by a combination of bad ceiling (attic) insulation and the freeze - thaw effect. Ice dams create a water-like slush that backs up under the shingles (and building paper) and then leaks into the house. So, unless those interlocking tiles are water tight, then they'll leak.

If you have adequate insulation AND adequate attic vents, then I'd check the perimeter of the insulation in the attic. If the insulation has expanded "up" and blocked the venting process, then it defeats the venting process and allows heat to escape up to the roof...which creates ice dams.

I'd stick my head up in the attic and see if you can see light shining in around the perimeter. If not, you need to add insulation baffles.

Improve this answer
1
  • Yes, I tried to make it clear in my question. The entire perimeter has vented soffits. There is nothing blocking it, as the insulation on the attic floor is fiberglass between the rafters. I am open to any ideas that it would improve the circulation of air up in the attic, perhaps adding an exhaust fan? Right now the soffits are vented and there's a ridge vent at the top of the attic ceiling peak
    – JTP - Apologise to Monica
    Apr 20, 2017 at 11:52

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.