Ice Dam Removal and Prevention in Utah

Ice dams cause so much damage because a roof is built to shed water running downhill, and an ice dam makes water pool and travel back up under the shingles, where there is nothing to stop it. That is why ice dams soak insulation and ceilings on roofs that are otherwise in good condition.

Deal with an ice dam as soon as you see a thick ridge of ice at the eaves, heavy icicles hanging off the gutter line, or a damp patch spreading on an upstairs ceiling. Do not wait for a thaw. Every freeze cycle widens the gap the water is getting through.

• A ridge of ice building along the eaves
• Heavy icicles hanging from the gutter line
• Damp patches on upstairs ceilings mid-winter

Ice dam removal means clearing the dam with low-pressure steam instead of chipping at it, because an axe or a hammer takes the shingles off with the ice. Once the roof is draining again we look at why it happened, which is almost always heat escaping into the attic and melting snow from below.

• Low-pressure steam removal, not chipping
• Clearing gutters and drainage paths
• Attic insulation and air-leak assessment
• Ventilation correction to stop it recurring

Stopping ice dams coming back is a heat problem more than a roof problem. Warm air leaking into the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and that water refreezes at the cold eaves. Sealing those leaks, getting the insulation right and ventilating the attic properly is what actually fixes it.

1. Clear the damSteam it off so the roof can drain and the leaking stops.
2. Find the heat sourceAir leaks and thin insulation are what feed the dam.
3. Correct ventilationA cold attic in winter is the goal, not a warm one.
4. Protect the eavesIce-and-water shield at the eaves on the next replacement.

Courtland Roofing is a family-owned, licensed and insured Utah roofing company led by Coury Lloyd. We work the benches and canyons where ice dams are worst, and we would rather fix the cause than sell you the same removal every January.

Why homeowners pick us:

• Steam, never a hammerChipping ice takes the shingles with it. Low-pressure steam does not.
• We fix the causeIce dams come from heat escaping into the attic. Clearing them without fixing that just books next January.
• We work the benches and canyonsWhere ice dams are worst, which is where we spend our winters.
• Damage documented for insuranceIce dam damage is often covered, and we record it properly.

Certified installer for GAF, CertainTeed and Owens Corning, family-owned, licensed & insured.

Courtland Roofing provides ice dam removal & prevention across 89 cities and communities in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Utah Counties, plus nearby areas including Tooele, Park City, Heber City, Morgan and Brigham City. We clear and prevent ice dams in all of them.

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