I get your point about insulation and ventilation, but honestly, sometimes the ice barrier alone can save you a ton of headaches. A few years back, I had zero budget for attic improvements—just slapped on a decent ice barrier under the shingles and hoped for the best. Surprisingly, it stopped the leaks completely. Sure, my attic still isn't perfect (far from it...), but at least I'm not scrambling for buckets every winter. Sometimes a band-aid actually does the trick, y'know?
"Sometimes a band-aid actually does the trick, y'know?"
Haha, totally get it—roofing's full of band-aids that outlive the "proper" fixes. If buckets aren't your winter decor anymore, you're winning... at least until next season rolls around.
Haha, buckets as winter decor... been there. Honestly though, ice barrier placement can save you a ton of headaches later on. I learned the hard way that just doing the bare minimum (like only along the eaves) isn't always enough. If you've got valleys or dormers, definitely run it up those spots too—ice dams love to form there.
A roofer friend once told me to go at least 3 feet past the exterior wall line, but depending on your roof pitch and climate, sometimes even more is better. Sure, it feels like overkill at first, but when you're not climbing up there mid-January with a hairdryer (true story...), you'll thank yourself.
Good points all around, but I'd add one thing: don't overlook skylights or chimneys. Those areas can be sneaky trouble spots too. Run your ice barrier around them, extending at least a foot or two beyond the flashing edges. I've inspected enough roofs to know that ice dams love finding their way into those little gaps. Trust me, sealing up those spots now beats patching drywall in February... been there, done that.
Great advice about skylights and chimneys—I hadn't even thought about those spots. Just moved into my first house last year, and we learned the hard way about ice dams near the chimney. Nothing major, thankfully, but enough to make me nervous every time it snowed. Definitely gonna extend the barrier around there next time we're up on the roof. Better safe than sorry, right? Thanks for the heads-up!
