While icicles dangling from a rooftop often symbolize the beauty of winter, experts say they really can indicate a potential seasonal hazard.
Harrison Clark, general manager of Triton Roofing & Solar in Colorado Springs, Colorado, referred to the issue as ice dams.
“That’s when water, ice or snow melts, and the water then runs down the roof and hits the eave of the house, where it’s not insulated as much as the rest of the roof,” Clark said. “So, it creates an ice dam, where ice continuously builds up, which can cause damage to the shingles.”
David Donnelly, education, communication and policy manager at the HOA Information and Resource Center in Denver, said ice dams can also cause interior damage to homes. Interior damage can include water-stained ceilings, warped walls and possible mold growth, Clark said.
“This type of damage is typically covered under [an insurance] policy,” Donnelly said. “However, depending on the insurer and the insurance policy, if the homeowner doesn’t take steps to mitigate damages and it becomes long-term damage, a claim could be denied.”
Creating barricades against the dams
Clark said one way to prevent ice dams is to install heat tape or heat wire, which melts snow or ice on the eave of the roof and prevents snow from building up.
“You can use a manual method with a hammer, but you have to be careful because, depending on what the roof is made of, you could damage the shingles,” Clark said. “If it’s a metal roof, you don’t want to puncture.”
He said tile roofing could also be damaged if it is hit too hard while someone is trying to remove ice. Another method of dealing with ice on roofs is the warm water method, according to Clark.
Clark also said that in colder climates, another effective preventive measure for roof protection is the installation of an ice and water barrier. This peel-and-stick membrane is applied directly to the roof decking, particularly along the eaves, where ice dams are most likely to form. It acts as a safeguard against water infiltration caused by melting and refreezing snow.
If a homeowner skips this step or other preventive measures, repairs can vary depending on the extent of the damage, Clark said.
For example, if shingles are damaged due to improper ice removal, the fix may be as simple as replacing the affected shingles. However, more comprehensive repairs — such as retrofitting an ice and water barrier beneath the shingles — can be more costly and labor-intensive.
Navigating the insurance path
Two licensed Colorado public adjusters, Adina Bergstrom and Anthony Dress of Gavnat and Associates — a Minnesota-based insurance adjusting firm—told Homes.com that ice often leads to numerous problems.
“We see a wide variety of damage, ranging from interior water damage from ice dams and frozen pipes to damaged roofing systems to complete collapses of buildings,” Bergstrom and Dress said.
They added that in 2022, the Insurance Information Institute reported $6 billion in insured losses, with more than half of that damage arising from a single event.
“The owner of a single-family home typically carries insurance for the weight of ice and snow that would damage their home both on the exterior and the interior or a complete collapse of the roof or structure itself,” Bergstrom and Dress said.
They reinforced the importance of homeowners taking preventive measures when dealing with ice and snow.
“There are professional contractors that will inspect your roof and remove your ice dams,” Bergstrom and Dress said.