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PJMcK

(22,886 posts)
Tue Feb 16, 2021, 08:48 PM Feb 2021

I think I'm going to learn an expensive lesson

We have a small cabin on our property in the Catskills that was originally built as a hunting retreat. A few years ago, I had it rebuilt and improved into a wonderful music studio/office. It has lots of windows and a skylight so it's quite bright even on an overcast day. There's a small fireplace in one corner and you can see the Delaware River down the mountain side.

Like most structures here, the cabin doesn't have rain gutters because of the dominance of pine needles. This winter, we've had a great deal of snow and frozen rain and the ice has built up to 6-inches thick on the edge of the back side of the roof. The water got underneath the shingles then froze and expanded creating a leak into the soffit. The warmth from inside melted the frozen water and it leaked down through the wall and inside the cabin. Ugh.

The carpenter I hire suggested I get a "snow rake" to clear the roof and try to chip up the ice block without damaging the shingles. My initial assessment is that I'll have to have the wall opened to remove any wet insulation, dry it out and seal any leaks. But we can't do anything until after the Spring thaw, probably mid-April.

Meanwhile, I turned up the heat a bit to encourage evaporation and I lugged a dehumidifier through the snowy woods to help keep the interior dry. Please explain to me the joys of home ownership! (wink)

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I think I'm going to learn an expensive lesson (Original Post) PJMcK Feb 2021 OP
UGH! elleng Feb 2021 #1
If you can access the roof, put the rock salt to it. Get a shovel or pick or ax and chip at it. OAITW r.2.0 Feb 2021 #2
Great idea, thanks! (n/t) PJMcK Feb 2021 #4
Read up on getting rid of ice dams - i.e. keeping the whole roof the same temperature as the c-rational Feb 2021 #3
We had this on our home some years ago. badhair77 Mar 2021 #5
The ideal place helenN May 2021 #6
Hi, helenN PJMcK May 2021 #7

OAITW r.2.0

(28,361 posts)
2. If you can access the roof, put the rock salt to it. Get a shovel or pick or ax and chip at it.
Tue Feb 16, 2021, 08:57 PM
Feb 2021

Continue to add rock salt until the ice dams break down.

If you can reach the ice dam from a 6 ft ladder on the ground, just cup the rock salt and throw it up. You can use the snowrake on its side to break up the ice dam.

c-rational

(2,866 posts)
3. Read up on getting rid of ice dams - i.e. keeping the whole roof the same temperature as the
Tue Feb 16, 2021, 09:07 PM
Feb 2021

eaves - i.e. the solution being more insulation proper air flow from the soffits to a ridge vent or similar roof vent and keeping warm air inside the occupied spaces. Also when re-roofing add a bottom strip of metal to the lower 3 feet of roof below the shingles.

badhair77

(4,610 posts)
5. We had this on our home some years ago.
Mon Mar 29, 2021, 12:13 PM
Mar 2021

When we reroofed we added some rubber-like material about a foot from the edge back to cover future issues. Of course on the house we still had gutters. You might want to try some heated tape. It’s not outrageously expensive. Good luck, I feel for you. Ours went down the walls and into the basement. Lots of wet stuff. Insurance gave us some money to cover the damage to the wood floors in the living.

 

helenN

(5 posts)
6. The ideal place
Sat May 29, 2021, 07:24 AM
May 2021

First of all, I want to say your place seems to be ideal for relax and spending good time. It was a great decision to rebuilt it this way.
I understand that I'm to late with the response But my parents faced the same issue this winter. What I can say...UGH!
And I want to thank everyone who shred the experience and knowledge, it is helpful!

PJMcK

(22,886 posts)
7. Hi, helenN
Sat May 29, 2021, 12:31 PM
May 2021

It's never too late to post although clearly the snow and ice are long gone by now!

Hope you're having a great holiday weekend.

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