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In the Forum: Horn-Loaded Speakers
In the Thread: Macondo’s Midbass Project – the grown up time.

Post Subject: Ice dams - experiencePosted by scooter on: 7/25/2010

Hi Romy -

Do some research on the insulation and water problems of roofs in extreme situations (e.g. Northern Maine, Canada). We can have these same problems in Massachusetts in January and February. I had to deal with these painful issues at a quasi-insulated cottage in Maine. I see your attic having some of these problems as it moves from uninsulated to quasi insulated, heating your roof to higher temperatures.
My basic understanding follows, but you should research carefully before speaking with your roofing/insulation guy:

- Your case currently - An unheated house (or attic in your case) does not allow ice dams to form because the roof is not forcing snow to melt. Snow is not a real problem until it gets too heavy and just collapses the roof.

- Your future case if you don't plan properly - ICE DAMS - essentially the bottom layer of snow on your room melts/refreezes from house heat. A layer of water can not move up because of ice formed between the roof and the snow so the water creeps up under the asphalt shingles and finds a way to trickle into the house at seams, nail holes etc. This ruins your shingles because they were not designed to be flexing and causes water damage inside your house (could be a few drops or a pretty rapid stream). In Maine we used to keep the house at 50 degrees so the pipes would not burst and this caused ice dams. We solved the problem by going outside and chopping the 2 inch thick ice the whole length o the roof from the gutter up about 3 feet. This takes a long time, is dangerous and surely decreases the lifespan of the roof. Now we just turn the heat off and drain the water system in the winter and close up the Maine place. No ice dams or leaks.

- Metal roofs are an option (because they should let snow slide off) but they are very expensive, noisy and have the problem at joints/nail holes. I don't see these in Massachusetts but do in Maine.

I am not going to comment on the quality of architecture and construction in New England but would assume your house is not over designed or overbuilt, so you need to think about this now. Good luck!

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