It is a good idea to get your roof inspected by an experienced local roofer before the harshest winter months set in each year.  If you live in a place like Virginia where it gets very cold in the winter, you may see icicles dangling from the roof tops during the coldest times.  While these can be beautiful, they are a telltale sign of dangerous ice dams on the roofing structure.  They form when it’s freezing cold outside and people turn up the heat to stay warm, which even warms the ceilings of the house. These warm ceilings gradually gain a little warmth from the outside too, and the layer of ice or snow that comes in contact with the warm ceiling melts and flows towards the slope, often freezing just as it hits the icy edge of the slope.  This traps the water underneath and creates a thin layer of ice, known as the ice dam.

If you don’t get help from a knowledgeable roofer in your area, these ice dams can have many undesirable consequences.  The water will eventually seep into the house and destroy the ceiling, walls, gutter and attic because it has no outlet.  It can also damage the insulation, shingles and floors before you even know it.  But experienced roofing contractors have the knowledge and experience to prevent ice dams from forming in the first place.  And if they do occur, a trusted roofing contractor will perform roof repair services that will prevent it from getting any worse.