Battling winter roof woes: heat cables vs. more insulation?

Stuffing towels in the soffits - yikes, I’ve seen that too. It’s wild what people try when they’re desperate to stop drafts. I hear you on the baffles and mesh not being foolproof. I’ve had squirrels chew right through the mesh before… guess nothing’s totally critter-proof. But yeah, keeping up with the vents is just part of the routine now. At least you caught it before things got worse.

Yeah, I’ve seen some wild improvisations too - towels, spray foam, even old t-shirts stuffed up there. It’s not pretty, but when drafts are bad, people get creative. Squirrels are a whole other headache... I’ve had them tear through mesh and even gnaw at metal flashing. You’re right, no system is totally foolproof, but you’re staying on top of it and that makes a difference. Catching these things early really does save a ton of hassle later on.

You’re not kidding about the squirrels. I’ve seen them chew through stuff I thought was basically squirrel-proof - galvanized mesh, even some of the heavier gauge flashing. It’s wild what they’ll do if they want in bad enough. You’re right though, catching those little signs early is half the battle. I always tell folks, if you see a bit of insulation poking out or hear scratching, don’t wait around.

On the draft fixes, I’ve walked into attics and found everything from old jeans to plastic bags stuffed in gaps. Not ideal, but when it’s freezing and you’re desperate, I get it. Still, if you can, step-by-step: first, find where the air’s coming in (sometimes it’s not where you think), then seal with something that’ll last - rigid foam board or proper caulk works better than fabric or spray foam for most gaps. And for critters, hardware cloth with small openings is usually tougher for them to get through than regular mesh.

You’re definitely ahead of the game by keeping an eye out and patching things up before they turn into bigger headaches. Most folks don’t notice until water’s pouring in or there’s a full-on squirrel family up there...

I get what you’re saying about hardware cloth, but I’ve actually seen squirrels squeeze through some pretty tiny openings if they’re determined enough. Even with 1/4" mesh, sometimes they’ll just find a spot you missed or start chewing at the edges. Have you ever tried using metal flashing in combo with the hardware cloth? I’ve found that layering them - especially around soffit gaps - makes a difference, though it’s definitely more work.

On insulation, I’m curious - do you think adding more is always better for ice damming, or can it sometimes trap moisture if the attic’s not vented right? I’ve seen folks over-insulate and end up with mold issues later. Just wondering how you balance that.

do you think adding more is always better for ice damming, or can it sometimes trap moisture if the attic’s not vented right?

Definitely not always better. I learned the hard way - packed my attic full of batts and ended up with condensation on the rafters. If your venting isn’t up to snuff, all that insulation just keeps the moisture in. Balance is key: good airflow plus enough insulation to keep the heat out of the attic, but not so much you create a sauna for mold. And yeah, squirrels... those little gymnasts will chew through anything short of steel plating.