Ice Damming & Home Inspections

A common issue observed during home inspections in winter time is ice damming. Ice damming is the formation of large icicles or ice build up inside of gutters and along the eaves of the roof.

Typically ice damming is caused by two main things, poor insulation in the attic and poor venting, specifically at the soffits. This is why ice damming is commonly observed during a home inspection on an older home.

Older homes tend to have low insulation levels and also a lack of adequate soffit venting. If a home is poorly insulated, heat will bleed its way into the attic space all the way to the underside of the roof and cause snow to melt.

As the snow melts, water will travel down the roof until it hits the eaves where no more heat is leaking out of the attic. This is where the ice starts to accumulate and can cause damage to gutters and lead to roof leaks in severe cases.

In most cases where ice damming is observed, your home inspector will likely recommend installing more attic insulation as well as improving roof venting to help alleviate ice damming problems. In some rare cases, ice dams can also form due to sun exposure and other elements, in which case alternative methods such as heating cables may need to be installed to help solve the problem.

Most ice damming issues can be solved without too much headache, but its best to consult with your home inspector on the recommended course of action for repairs.

Above Grade Home Inspections Inc. performs home inspections, thermal imaging inspections, WETT inspections and mould inspections in Barrie and across Simcoe County.