Can anything be done to the outside of the roof to stop ice dams?
Not to the roofing itself. But a properly installed roof can eliminate much of the damage they cause. Even if you did everything recommended above, ice dams might still form under severe conditions. Modification or replacement of your roof is the only sure way to permanently stop the leakage. The trick is to get your roofer to do the job right and not cut corners. Ditto if you do it yourself! Roofing is one of the easiest parts of building a house, but is labor intensive and potentially dangerous. It is also a place where contractors tend to skimp, because the effects of a poorly installed roof may not become apparent for years… long after the check clears! A quality roof installation in the snow belt should have four components: proper flashing, ice and water barrier installed on all roof edges and over all valleys (places where two roof lines meet), rolled asphalt underlayment over the entire roof, and quality roofing shingles with the proper overlap. If you have one specific probl
