- Had similar issues with ice dams on my standard shingle roof... not convinced green roofs are any worse in that regard.
- Agree that cables aren't always the best fix—mine worked okay at first, then became unreliable after a few seasons.
- Adjusting the slope slightly makes sense; runoff needs somewhere clear to go, especially in freeze-thaw cycles.
- I added a wider drainage channel and some extra flashing around trouble spots. Helped quite a bit, though nothing's perfect.
- Never tried insulating underneath specifically for ice dam prevention, but sounds logical enough. Maybe next winter I'll experiment with it a bit.
Had my own battle with ice dams a couple winters back—tried the cable route too, and yeah, same story here. Worked great at first, then the thing just decided to retire early. Ended up tweaking the gutter setup a bit, widening the downspouts, and adding some makeshift flashing (shoutout to DIY YouTube vids). Helped somewhat, though I still get occasional icicle sculptures...but hey, free holiday decor, right? Might give insulation a shot next year if budget allows.
Yeah, those cables are hit or miss. I ended up going the green roof route myself—plants soak up moisture and insulate surprisingly well. Still get the odd icicle, but hey, nature-approved holiday decor, right? Might be worth a thought down the line...
Yeah, green roofs definitely have their perks, especially insulation-wise. I've seen a few setups that worked surprisingly well, but honestly, they're not always the easiest to maintain. If you're considering it, here's a heads-up from experience:
First off, make sure your roof structure can handle the extra weight. Plants and soil get heavy fast, especially after rain or snow. I've seen folks underestimate this and end up with structural issues down the line—definitely not fun to fix mid-winter.
Second, drainage is key. You mentioned moisture absorption, and that's true to an extent, but if your drainage isn't spot-on, you might end up with pooling water underneath the vegetation layer. That can lead to leaks or even mold issues inside your attic space. Trust me, mold remediation is way more expensive than installing proper drainage upfront.
Also, plant selection matters more than you'd think. Sedums and other hardy succulents are usually the go-to because they're drought-resistant and low-maintenance. But I've seen people try fancier plants that look great at first but can't handle seasonal extremes—then you're stuck replacing dead plants every spring.
As for those heating cables... yeah, they're hit or miss for sure. I've installed plenty of them myself, and sometimes they work great for years; other times they fail after one harsh winter. If you do go that route again, make sure you're getting quality cables rated specifically for outdoor use in harsh climates—cheap ones just aren't worth the hassle.
Personally, I'm still skeptical about green roofs being a universal solution—there's a lot of hype around them lately—but if done right (and maintained properly), they can definitely help manage ice dams and insulation issues. Just don't jump into it without doing your homework first...
"Personally, I'm still skeptical about green roofs being a universal solution—there's a lot of hype around them lately"
Yeah, I get where you're coming from. Green roofs seem cool in theory, but honestly, I've found reflective roof coatings to be way less hassle. Had mine done a couple years back—no plants to babysit, no drainage drama, and it still cut down on heat buildup noticeably. Might not look as fancy, but practicality-wise... hard to beat.
