Ice dams causing headaches? Saw this in the news…

I’ve always heard the same thing - just run the ice and water shield along the eaves and you’re set. But after a couple winters with weird leaks near my chimney and one valley, I started putting it in those spots too. It’s not cheap, but honestly, the cost of fixing water damage is way worse. I wouldn’t bother covering the whole roof unless you’re in a spot that gets crazy snow every year, but valleys, chimneys, and skylights are definitely worth the extra effort. Learned that the hard way...

I wouldn’t bother covering the whole roof unless you’re in a spot that gets crazy snow every year, but valleys, chimneys, and skylights are definitely worth the extra effort.

I had a similar experience with leaks around my skylight a few years back. Like you mentioned, just running the shield along the eaves wasn’t enough for me either. I live in upstate NY, and the snow piles up fast - valleys and anything that sticks out (chimneys, vents) are always trouble spots. The extra cost for more ice and water shield stings at first, but after tearing out soggy drywall once, I’m not taking chances. I still don’t do the whole roof, but anywhere water might back up or sit gets double coverage now.

Funny how all the “problem” spots on a roof seem to be the ones you can’t see from the ground. I’m in central Mass, and after last winter’s ice dams, I’m with you - anywhere water might sneak in gets extra shield now. I tried to cheap out years ago and skipped the valleys. Big mistake. Ended up with a wet attic and a lesson learned. The upfront cost hurts, but it’s nothing compared to fixing water damage. I still don’t bother with the whole roof either, but I’ll never skip the trouble spots again.

I get the urge to save a few bucks, but after patching up water stains in my ceiling two winters ago, I’m not risking it again. My place is a 70s ranch with a couple of shallow valleys - thought the basic ice shield at the eaves would be enough, but nope. Water found its way in right at the valley intersection. Ended up paying more for repairs than if I’d just put extra membrane there from the start. I still don’t cover the whole roof (seems like overkill and expensive), but anywhere snow piles or melts slow gets double-checked now. Sometimes “good enough” isn’t actually good enough, especially with New England weather.

That’s a tough lesson, but I get where you’re coming from. I tried to cheap out on valley protection once and paid for it later - water always finds the weak spot. I agree, full coverage seems like overkill in most cases, but those valleys and low spots really do need extra attention. New England weather just doesn’t cut you any slack.

I get the urge to skip full coverage, but honestly, I’ve seen too many “isolated” valley fixes fail when ice dams get bad. New England’s freeze-thaw cycles are brutal - water backs up in places you’d never expect. I used to think just hitting the valleys and eaves was enough, but after a few surprise leaks in odd spots, I started recommending full ice and water shield on every job. It’s not cheap, but neither is tearing out drywall after a leak. Sometimes overkill is just... peace of mind.

I hear you on the peace of mind angle, but I’ve gotta push back a bit. Full ice and water shield everywhere sounds good in theory, but it’s not always the magic bullet. I’ve been on jobs where folks went all-in, only to find leaks later because of poor ventilation or bad flashing details. Sometimes it’s not about how much shield you put down - it’s where and how you use it, plus making sure the rest of the roof system is up to snuff.

Honestly, on steep roofs with proper overhangs and decent attic airflow, I’ve seen partial coverage hold up just fine for years, even through those nasty storms we get up here. Not saying full coverage is wrong - just that it can be overkill (and a budget-buster) if the other basics aren’t dialed in. I’d rather see someone spend a little more on proper venting or better flashing than go nuts with underlayment everywhere.

Just my two cents from crawling around too many attics with a flashlight...

- Gotta agree with this:

Sometimes it’s not about how much shield you put down - it’s where and how you use it, plus making sure the rest of the roof system is up to snuff.

Is it really possible to avoid ice dams just by focusing on venting and insulation, though? I keep hearing different things from contractors - some swear by full ice shield coverage, others say it’s overkill unless you’ve got a super low slope. My place is a 1960s ranch with a pretty shallow roof pitch, and I’m in upstate NY where we get those crazy freeze-thaw swings. I had a small leak last winter right above the bathroom, and the roofer said my attic insulation was “borderline,” but didn’t push for a full shield either.

I’m just wondering if anyone’s actually seen a big difference after upgrading insulation or venting, versus just adding more underlayment. Is it worth tearing into the attic to add more insulation, or is that just throwing money at the problem? I’d rather not rip up the whole roof if I can help it... but I also don’t want to deal with another leak mid-February.

I’m just wondering if anyone’s actually seen a big difference after upgrading insulation or venting, versus just adding more underlayment.

I get where you’re coming from - nobody wants to shell out for a full tear-off if it’s not needed. I did add more insulation in my attic (also borderline, according to the guy who checked it), and it actually made a noticeable difference. Not perfect, but fewer icicles and no leaks last winter. I skipped the full ice shield because of cost, and honestly, with your shallow pitch, I’d focus on sealing up air leaks and boosting insulation first. It’s not just throwing money away - your heating bill might drop too.

I’ve seen a lot of folks get better results from tightening up insulation and sealing attic bypasses than just piling on more underlayment. One house I inspected last February had almost no ice damming after the owner focused on air leaks - didn’t even touch the roof. Still, venting matters too, especially with older homes that weren’t built with airflow in mind. Sometimes it’s a combo of small fixes that really add up.

Sometimes it’s a combo of small fixes that really add up.

That’s been my experience too. I’ve managed a few older duplexes where just sealing up attic hatches and around light fixtures made a bigger difference than adding more insulation. One thing I’d add - don’t forget about bathroom fans venting into the attic. I’ve seen that cause surprise ice dams even when everything else looked good. Quick checklist: seal leaks, check insulation depth, make sure vents actually go outside... it’s not always glamorous work, but it pays off.

Quick checklist: seal leaks, check insulation depth, make sure vents actually go outside... it’s not always glamorous work, but it pays off.

I’ve definitely seen the same thing - sometimes just tracking down those weird little air leaks around pipes or chimneys makes a bigger dent than dumping in more insulation. One thing I’m curious about: has anyone tried using those attic stair covers? I keep reading mixed reviews. Wondering if they’re worth the hassle or if just weatherstripping is enough.

Attic stair covers… yeah, I’ve wrestled with those a couple times. Honestly, the first one I installed was a comedy of errors - me, a staple gun, and a lot of cursing. But once it was in, I did notice less draftiness around the stairs. Weatherstripping helps, but if your attic door is right under a cold spot (like mine), that extra layer really cuts down on the ice dam drama. Not magic, but worth it if you’re already up there poking around.

But once it was in, I did notice less draftiness around the stairs.

That was my experience too - those attic covers aren’t glamorous, but they do make a difference. I was skeptical at first, honestly. Didn’t love spending even a little extra, but after my heating bill dropped (not by a ton, but enough to notice), I figured it paid for itself. I’d say it’s one of those upgrades where the hassle is worth it, especially if you’re getting hit with ice dams every winter. Not a silver bullet, but it beats ignoring the problem and paying for repairs later.

I get the logic behind attic covers, but I’m not convinced they’re the main fix for ice dams. I put one in last fall - helped with drafts, sure, but I still had icicles and some minor leaks. Ended up needing to add more insulation and seal up some weird gaps around the chimney. Maybe it’s a combo of things, not just the cover? My house is older, so maybe that’s part of it...

- Totally get what you mean about attic covers not being the magic fix.
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“Ended up needing to add more insulation and seal up some weird gaps around the chimney.”

Older homes are like that one friend who needs a little “extra” just to get out the door - always another thing. I manage a few places from the 50s and 60s, and yeah, attic covers are just the appetizer. Here’s how I usually attack ice dams, step by step (with varying degrees of success):

1. **Find the weird drafts**: Old houses love hiding gaps behind walls, around chimneys, or in knee walls. I once found a hole big enough for a raccoon behind an old built-in cabinet... no joke.
2. **Insulation party**: If it’s less than 10 inches thick up there, it’s probably not enough. Blown-in cellulose is my go-to because you can stuff it into odd corners.
3. **Seal the attic hatch**: Weatherstripping plus some rigid foam board does wonders.
4. **Ventilation**: Gotta make sure soffit and ridge vents aren’t blocked by old insulation or squirrel nests (ask me how I know).

Honestly, even with all that, sometimes you still get a stubborn dam after a wild cold snap. Just part of the charm, right? At least you’re not alone - these old houses keep us humble... and busy.

Man, I hear you on the attic covers - sometimes feels like you fix one thing and three more pop up. Have you ever tried those heat cables along the eaves? I’ve seen mixed results, but some folks swear by them for stubborn ice dams. Curious if anyone’s had luck with that or if it just runs up the electric bill...