Preventing Ice Dams with ECO ROOF
A double strapped ECO ROOF with above sheathing ventilation serves two main purposes
1. It converts heated air from the sun's radiant energy into convective energy that ducts heated air up to a concealed ridge vent system. This keeps your home cooler in Summer and helps reduce energy bills if you use a central air cooling system in your home.
2. Its second function is to deal with heat loss from the attic in winter which causes snow to melt and run down the roof slope.. When the water that melts above the attic space reaches the eaves of the roof directly above the soffits, water freezes because the air beneath the soffits is much cooler than the attic air space. Once this water freezes, it creates ice dams that can often lead to roof leaks. The leaks occur because water that freezes in these ice dams by the capillary action of water permeates between the shingles and then freezes. This freezing action expands and separates the seal strips between the shingle tabs of asphalt shingle roof and is the main reason that ice and water shield is generally applied on the eave edge of most roofs.
THE SOLUTION
A double strapped roof has an air space beneath the roofing panels that ducts heat loss from the sheathing deck above the attic up to a ridge vent. In addition, the air gap created by the double strapping forms a thermal bridge designed to prevent ice dams.
In the event of smaller amounts of ice forming on the roof edge due to poor insulation, with a sheathing ventilated ECO ROOF you are assured your roof will never leak, because our continuous sheet, roll formed panels have no joints between each profile . A single sheet of steel roofing runs up the entire slope of your roof from the eave to the ridge - unlike both asphalt shingles and metal roof shingles which are subject to leaking at the eaves due to the capillary action of water if ice dams occur.
From our experience having sold over 1200 Eco Roofs to Ottawa homeowners, a double strapped, sheathing ventilated roof system solves 95% of ice damming issues.
We have seen countless examples of homes with new metal shingle roofs continue to experience major ice damming issues after roof replacement.
THE 2 MAIN CAUSES OF ICE DAMMING
Ice damming is caused by one one two issues, poor insulation or inadequate ventilation.
Adding Insulation is inexpensive and a good investment for any homeowner looking to reduce their energy bills
A CAUTION WHEN ADDING BLOWN INSULATION
Insulation is frequently added to address heat loss and ice damming. Sometimes the ice damming continues simply because soffits are not venting correctly because poorly installed blown insulation can sometimes block the roofs soffit air intakes.
IMPORTANT - Make sure soffits are open and allowing air in to your attic. This a common cause of ice damming issues
1. It converts heated air from the sun's radiant energy into convective energy that ducts heated air up to a concealed ridge vent system. This keeps your home cooler in Summer and helps reduce energy bills if you use a central air cooling system in your home.
2. Its second function is to deal with heat loss from the attic in winter which causes snow to melt and run down the roof slope.. When the water that melts above the attic space reaches the eaves of the roof directly above the soffits, water freezes because the air beneath the soffits is much cooler than the attic air space. Once this water freezes, it creates ice dams that can often lead to roof leaks. The leaks occur because water that freezes in these ice dams by the capillary action of water permeates between the shingles and then freezes. This freezing action expands and separates the seal strips between the shingle tabs of asphalt shingle roof and is the main reason that ice and water shield is generally applied on the eave edge of most roofs.
THE SOLUTION
A double strapped roof has an air space beneath the roofing panels that ducts heat loss from the sheathing deck above the attic up to a ridge vent. In addition, the air gap created by the double strapping forms a thermal bridge designed to prevent ice dams.
In the event of smaller amounts of ice forming on the roof edge due to poor insulation, with a sheathing ventilated ECO ROOF you are assured your roof will never leak, because our continuous sheet, roll formed panels have no joints between each profile . A single sheet of steel roofing runs up the entire slope of your roof from the eave to the ridge - unlike both asphalt shingles and metal roof shingles which are subject to leaking at the eaves due to the capillary action of water if ice dams occur.
From our experience having sold over 1200 Eco Roofs to Ottawa homeowners, a double strapped, sheathing ventilated roof system solves 95% of ice damming issues.
We have seen countless examples of homes with new metal shingle roofs continue to experience major ice damming issues after roof replacement.
THE 2 MAIN CAUSES OF ICE DAMMING
Ice damming is caused by one one two issues, poor insulation or inadequate ventilation.
Adding Insulation is inexpensive and a good investment for any homeowner looking to reduce their energy bills
A CAUTION WHEN ADDING BLOWN INSULATION
Insulation is frequently added to address heat loss and ice damming. Sometimes the ice damming continues simply because soffits are not venting correctly because poorly installed blown insulation can sometimes block the roofs soffit air intakes.
IMPORTANT - Make sure soffits are open and allowing air in to your attic. This a common cause of ice damming issues