Ice Dam Removal & Mitigation Company in Michigan

Name: Summit Point Roofing
Telephone: (616) 622-6343

What are Ice Dams?

Ice dams occur when heat from the interior of your home melts the bottom layer of snow on your roof. As the snow melts, water runs down your roof and refreezes at the eave. As ice builds up at the eave, the pressure and weight of the ice push water underneath your shingles and into your house, which can lead to massive water damage, making professional ICE dam removal service essential.

Please understand that the removal of ice dams needs to be done properly. Common approaches that remove ice in other ways, such as hammers, salt, and de-icer sprays, can damage your roof. Do not use these! Instead, call us for a safe and effective ICE dam removal service.

The good news is your homeowner’s insurance policy may help cover all or some of the cost of treating ice dams, and we’ll work with you and your policy provider to sort out those details.

How are Ice Dams Removed?

We don’t use high-pressure steam for ice dam removal, since it can be risky for certain roof systems. Instead, we may be able to help by using safer, lower-impact methods such as controlled salt applications. These options can still relieve ice buildup while reducing the chance of damage to shingles and other roofing materials.

How to Prevent Ice Dams?

We offer a variety of solutions to prevent ice dams from forming in the future on your roof. Because what causes ice dams to form can be different house to house, our recommendations are unique to each project, but may include one or some of the following options.

Does Increasing Ventilation Help with Ice Dams?

Adding more ventilation under the roof deck can help keep the cool air flowing, so it stays above freezing, thereby avoiding the warm up that causes the snow to melt in the first place.

Does Heat Tape Work for Ice Dams?

Also called a heat cable, this electric line is installed in a zig-zag pattern along the edge of your roof. It keeps the snow melt from refreezing, so it can flow harmlessly into your gutters and to the ground.

Will Insulation Help with Ice Dams?

By adding more insulation in the attic, ceiling, or elsewhere, warm air is prevented from rising up to melt snow on the roof.

Reworking Your Existing Ventilation

This can improve air flow, so cool air circulates just below your roof keeping it above freezing so the snow on your roof doesn’t melt.

When Ice Dams Are a Sign Your Roof Needs Replacement

In many cases, recurring ice dams are a sign of deeper roofing issues such as poor ventilation, aging shingles, or inadequate insulation. If your home experiences ice dams year after year, it may be time to have a roofing professional inspect the system to determine whether roof replacement or ventilation improvements are needed.

Recurring ice dams are often a sign of deeper roofing system issues such as poor ventilation, aging shingles, or damaged underlayment. In many cases, homeowners discover that ongoing ice dam problems indicate it may be time to consider a roof replacement rather than repeated temporary fixes. In addition to residential roofing, our team also works on larger buildings and flat roofing systems through our commercial roofing services and provides roofing solutions for multi-building communities through our condo and multi-family roofing services. We provide roofing services throughout West Michigan, Northern Michigan, and Metro Detroit, helping property owners address the underlying causes of ice dams and protect their roofing systems long term.

You can learn more about our roof replacement services and schedule an inspection to determine the condition of your roofing system.

Ice Dam FAQs

Can gutters help prevent ice dams?

Keeping your gutters free of debris helps snow melt to flow freely, so it can’t freeze. When it can’t freeze, you can’t get ice dams. Clean out your gutters before the first snowfall.

Does using a roof rake help prevent ice dams?

Yes! Use a roof rake, also called a snow rake, to remove snow along the edges of your roof, and in any deep valleys.

Does Ice damming reduce the life of my roof?

Yes, ice dams can cause substantial damage to the shingles, reducing the lifespan of the roof.

See more residential roofing FAQ’s here!

We are experts in roofing and stellar in customer service

See our specialties below.

Our Service Areas

With offices in Ada, Traverse City, and Novi, Summit Point Roofing provides commercial roofing, residential roof replacement, and condo and multi-family roofing services throughout Grand Rapids and West Michigan, Traverse City and Northern Michigan, and Metro Detroit.

Residential and Commercial Roofing in Grand Rapids and West Michigan

Our Ada, MI office serves Grand Rapids and surrounding West Michigan communities.

Residential and Commercial Roofing in Traverse City and Northern Michigan

Based out of our Traverse City office, we provide roofing services throughout Traverse City and Northern Michigan.

Residential and Commercial Roofing in Metro Detroit

Our Novi office provides roofing services throughout Metro Detroit including Novi, Birmingham, Plymouth, and surrounding communities.

Award-Winning Service

We take pride in being amongst the 2% of roofing companies in the country recognized as a GAF Master Elite Contractor.