Totally agree on waiting it out—I jumped the gun a couple winters ago and added extra vents, thinking it'd solve everything. Spoiler alert: it didn't. Clearing soffits helped way more, plus sealing up attic leaks made a noticeable difference too...lesson learned!
I get your point about waiting it out, but honestly, sometimes being proactive can save you headaches later. Last winter, I waited too long thinking it was just a ventilation issue. Turned out the ice barrier placement was off—had to redo part of the shingles in spring. I'd suggest double-checking the barrier placement first, especially near eaves and valleys. Ventilation helps, sure, but if the barrier's not positioned right, you're still gonna have issues...just my two cents from recent experience.
"Ventilation helps, sure, but if the barrier's not positioned right, you're still gonna have issues..."
Yeah, good call on checking the barrier placement first. It's surprising how often that's overlooked. Curious though—did you also notice if the underlayment type made a difference for you? I've seen some debates around synthetic vs traditional felt paper affecting ice damming issues. Wondering what your experience was like on that front...
I've messed around with both synthetic and traditional felt over the years, and honestly, I haven't noticed a huge difference specifically for ice dams. Placement and sealing around edges always seemed way more critical. But hey, your mileage might vary...
"Placement and sealing around edges always seemed way more critical."
Totally agree with this. I've seen neighbors obsess over the type of underlayment, but then botch the flashing and sealing... guess who had ice dams that winter? Spoiler: wasn't me.
