Ice Dam Removal in Hudson, WI
Ice dam removal in Hudson means melting the ridge of ice off your eaves before the water trapped behind it works under the shingles and into your ceilings and walls. Hudson Roofing Pros clears ice dams from homes in Hudson and western Wisconsin, then shows you what is causing them so the next thaw does not bring them back.
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- Since 2016
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Why Hudson Roofs Get Ice Dams
Hudson roofs get ice dams when heat from the house melts snow on the upper roof and the water refreezes at the colder eaves, building a ridge of ice that holds back the next round of meltwater.
That heat almost always comes from the living space below. Ice dams tend to form where warm air leaks into the attic and the insulation is too thin to stop it, and the usual leak points are recessed can lights, ceiling fans, drop soffits and the chase around a chimney. The roof deck above those spots warms up, the snow on it melts, and the water runs down until it reaches the overhang, which sits outside the heated walls and stays as cold as the air.
Western Wisconsin gives that cycle plenty to work with. The Hudson area gets roughly 45 to 50 inches of snow a year, and January nights at the Twin Cities airport average a low of about 9°F, so a roof can sit under snow for weeks while the attic below it leaks heat. Once the pool behind the dam gets deep enough, water backs up under the shingle laps, which were made to shed water running down, not to hold back standing water.
Where the heat gets out
Can lights, fans and chimney chases
Warm air escaping through ceiling openings like these is what melts the snow that turns into an ice dam.
Signs of an Ice Dam on Your Hudson Home
The clearest sign of an ice dam on a Hudson home is a thick ridge of ice along the roof edge with snow still sitting on the roof above it, and the damage it causes usually shows up inside first.
A Ridge of Ice at the Eaves
Ice builds up along the edge of the roof, often over the gutter, while the snow higher up keeps melting into it.
Heavy Icicles
Long icicles hanging from the gutters mean meltwater is running off a warm roof and freezing at the cold edge.
Stains Near Outside Walls
Brown spots or wet drywall on ceilings close to an exterior wall are the classic mark of water backing up at the eaves.
Wet or Frosted Attic Sheathing
Frost, drips or dark patches on the underside of the roof deck point to warm, moist house air reaching the attic.
Gutters Pulling Away
Ice packed into gutters adds weight that can bend hangers and pull the gutter off the fascia.
Bare Patches in the Snow
Melted spots on an otherwise snow-covered roof show where heat is escaping through the ceiling below.
Is an ice dam leaking into your Hudson home right now?
Call us any hour and tell us where the water is showing up inside.
How We Remove an Ice Dam in Hudson
We remove an ice dam by clearing the snow that feeds it, melting the ice off the eave with steam and opening a path for the trapped water to drain, then finding out why it formed.
- 1
Find Where the Water Is Getting In
We look at the stains or drips inside and match them to the dam outside, so we know which stretch of roof to clear first.
- 2
Clear the Snow Above the Dam
Taking the snow off the lower roof stops the supply of meltwater and takes weight off the eaves. The same work is part of our roof snow removal service.
- 3
Melt the Ice Off the Eave
We steam the ice dam away along the edge and through the gutters so the water behind it can run off instead of backing up.
- 4
Check the Roof, Gutters and Ceiling
Once the ice is gone we look for lifted shingles, bent gutters and wet spots that need drying or repair.
- 5
Tell You What Caused It
Garrett or one of our crew walks you through where the heat is escaping and what it would take to stop it.
Remove the Ice Dam Now or Fix What Causes It?
Removing an ice dam stops the leak you have today, but only fixing the heat loss behind it stops the ice from coming back, so most Hudson homes with repeat ice dams need both.
Removal is the right call when water is already coming in, because waiting for a thaw lets it keep soaking insulation and drywall. Lasting ice dam prevention starts inside: sealing the air leaks in the ceiling first, then adding attic insulation and air sealing to the depth a Wisconsin attic needs. On a roof that also has a steep run-off problem, roof snow guards keep the snow that does come off from dropping onto walks and entries all at once.
Removing the Ice Dam
- Stops water backing up under the shingles today
- Takes weight off the gutters and eaves
- Needed once a leak shows up inside
- Comes back with the next snow and thaw if nothing changes
Fixing the Cause
- Air seals the ceiling so warm air stays out of the attic
- Brings attic insulation up to R-49 or more
- Adds an ice barrier at the eaves when the roof is replaced
- Keeps the roof cold so snow stops melting at the top
Getting ice dams on your Hudson roof every winter?
We can clear this year's ice and show you where the heat is getting out.
What Does Ice Dam Removal Cost in Hudson?
Ice dam removal costs $600 to $1,800 a job across the US, with steam service billed at about $400 to $600 an hour, and those are national ranges, not a quote, because no Hudson or Twin Cities survey figure is published.
What a Hudson job costs depends mostly on how long the dam is, how thick the ice has grown and how much snow has to come off first. We look at your roof and give you a price for that job before we start.
Ice dam removal, national ranges
National ranges, not a quote.
What Wisconsin Requires at the Eaves of Your Roof
Wisconsin's dwelling code requires ice dam protection on shingle or shake roofs that sit over heated space, including an attached garage, and have a slope of 4:12 or less: a self-adhering ice-and-water membrane or sheet metal running at least 30 inches up the slope from the roof edge and at least 12 inches past the inside face of the exterior wall.
Steeper roofs are not covered by that rule as it reads today, but shingle makers and local inspectors can call for the same barrier on them, and we install it at the eaves when we replace a roof. The same code also says a house must be designed and built to prevent damage from condensation and ice damming, which is why attic venting and insulation are part of the conversation whenever we talk about ice dams. Our roof ventilation and underlayment work covers both.
Ice barrier on low-slope shingle roofs
30 inches up, 12 past the wall
On a shingle roof over heated space with a slope of 4:12 or less, the barrier must reach both marks.
Who Can Remove Ice Dams and Repair the Roof in Hudson?
Hudson Roofing Pros removes ice dams and repairs the roof behind them, and Wisconsin has no roofing-specific license, so the credential to ask for is the one the state ties to building permits.
A contractor who pulls a building permit for work on a one- or two-family home in Wisconsin must hold the state's Dwelling Contractor certification and must hold or employ a certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier. In the City of Hudson, replacing roofing does not need a permit when there are no structural changes, but structural repairs do. When you book with us, ask for proof of our credential and insurance, and you can check any contractor's credential on the state's credential lookup.
Ice Dam Removal FAQs
Should I Chip or Rake the Ice Dam Off Myself?
No, roof rakes and chipping tools can damage shingles, and a channel cut through the ice only drains water until it freezes over again. If water is coming in, call us to clear it.
Will the Ice Dam Come Back After It Is Removed?
Yes, it usually comes back with the next snow and thaw unless the heat escaping into the attic is stopped. Ice dam prevention deals with that cause.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Ice Dam Damage in Wisconsin?
It depends on your policy, so ask your insurer directly whether ice damage is covered. Wisconsin's consumer guide to homeowners insurance lists weight of ice, snow and sleet among common covered perils and suggests asking that exact question.
Do Heat Cables Stop Ice Dams?
Heat cables can keep a path open at the roof edge, but they do not stop heat leaking into the attic, which is what makes the ice. Across the US they run about $5 per linear foot, a national figure, not a quote.
Can You Remove Ice Dams in the Middle of Winter?
Yes, mid-winter is when ice dams form and leak, and that is when we remove them. Hudson Roofing Pros answers the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Get an ice dam removal estimate
Send the form or call us and tell us where the ice is and whether water is coming in. We will look at the roof and give you a price for clearing it.
Call now (651) 691-2168 Open 24 hours, 7 days a week