Ice Dam Prevention & Repair in Winnipeg
Fixing the attic heat and ventilation problem behind ice dams, not just the ice itself.
Ice damming is the most common winter roofing problem in Winnipeg, and it is the one Winnipeg Roof Pros spends the most time explaining. It is not really a roofing failure. It is a heat and ventilation failure that shows up at the roof.
The Mechanism
Warm air escapes from the living space into the attic — through ceiling light fixtures, the attic hatch, bathroom fans venting into the attic instead of outside, and gaps in the insulation. That warms the underside of the roof deck and melts the snow lying on it.
That meltwater runs down the slope until it reaches the eaves. The eaves overhang open air, so there is no heat below them, and the water refreezes into a ridge of ice. Each cycle adds to the dam. Eventually water pools behind it and works its way under the shingles, because shingles are designed to shed running water, not to hold back standing water.
Fixing the Cause
We assess three things: how much heat is getting into the attic, whether the intake ventilation at the soffits is actually open, and whether there is exhaust near the ridge to move that air out.
Blocked soffit intake is extremely common. Insulation gets pushed into the eaves during an upgrade, sealing off the vents, and the attic loses its ability to stay cold. Baffles restore the airflow path.
Protecting the Roof Meanwhile
On any replacement, ice and water shield goes along the eaves and extends well past the interior wall line, so that when a dam does form, the water backing up hits a waterproof membrane rather than the seam between two shingles.
We also repair what the ice has already damaged: torn fascia, bent or detached eavestrough, and flashing that ice has pulled away from a wall.
Ice damming is an attic ventilation problem far more often than a shingle problem, and the damage it leaves usually lands on the eavestroughs and fascia. It is a common call across East Kildonan and West Kildonan, where the housing age makes it especially frequent.
What's Included
- Ventilation and attic heat-loss assessment
- Ice and water shield installed well past the interior wall line
- Repair of eaves, fascia, and flashing damaged by ice
- Soffit intake corrected where insulation has blocked it
- Honest explanation of what will and will not stop the problem
Other Services We Offer in Winnipeg
Ice Dam Prevention & Repair Questions
What actually causes ice dams?
Heat escaping into the attic melts snow on the upper part of the roof. That water runs down to the eaves, which are colder because there is no heated space beneath them, and refreezes there. The ridge of ice that builds up blocks the next round of meltwater, which then backs up under the shingles.
Will raking the snow off my roof fix it?
It reduces the fuel for the problem and can help in the short term, particularly near the eaves. It does not address the heat loss and ventilation that caused it, and roof raking damages shingles when done aggressively or in very cold weather.
Do heat cables solve ice dams?
They create a melt channel so water has somewhere to go, which can prevent interior damage. They are a management tool, not a cure, and they cost electricity every winter. We would rather fix the ventilation and insulation problem where that is practical.
I have ice dams every single winter. Is my roof bad?
Usually the roof is not the problem — the attic is. Chronic ice damming almost always points to heat escaping into the attic and inadequate ventilation to carry it away. That is why replacing shingles alone often changes nothing.
Get a Free Ice Dam Prevention & Repair Quote
Book a free inspection and written quote. We tell you what we find, including when a repair will do the job.