Roof Snow & Ice Dams...

[Denny Crane]

I roof rake immediately following each storm, however my theory is if you keep it simple and make it a 10 minute project instead of an hour you will more than likely keep doing it. I only roof rake the first 2 feet of the roof near the soffit so when the sun hits the shingles they will warm up and keep the melting snow flowing off the roof. If you wait a day or two it may be too late and an ice berm may have already formed. Ice dams happen when subsequent water melts behind the berm and has nowhere to go but backwards, under the shingles.

If you are experiencing interior water damage and need some roof relief I would first recommend raking all the snow behind the berms. I have used ice melt loaded into socks and placed them vertically on the berm that will melt a channel for the water behind to flow. Some people will take a more aggressive approach and chop channels with and ax, but be careful.

Down the road when it's time for a new roof I believe building code for roofing calls for 3' of water and ice shield(membrane) under the shingles, some roofers will install 6', some may do the whole roof depending on the pitch. I would also install this in valleys and up any cheek wall under the siding.

Avoid these headaches and take the 10 minutes to rake!!
DC