Ice dams prevent melted snow from draining off the roof, where it then finds its way into the attic and walls of the home. (Photo courtesy: sgicanada.ca)

By Teena Monteleone

Give the snow somewhere to go

SGI warns hot-cold cycles could cause messy, expensive problems for homeowners

Mar 2, 2025 | 8:00 AM

Drywall crumbling, stained ceilings and mould from moisture are just some of the common problems due to ice damming, which is a seasonal occurrence caused by snow melting and then freezing again. However, they are also problems that can be avoided according to SGI Canada.

“As the temperatures fluctuate, the chance of ice dams developing on the roof of buildings goes up considerably. It’s time to move that snow off the roof and away from your foundation before it can cause problems,” said C.O.O. Andrew Voroney.

Using a roof rake to remove snow, especially within six feet of the eaves, can help prevent damage from ice dams. Homeowners are also encouraged to shovel snow piled up around the foundation at least two metres away to prevent seepage into the basement and ensure sump pumps are installed and working properly. As well, SGI suggests cleaning and maintaining the backwater valve on your sewer line if your home has one.

Ice dam warning signs include:

• icicles on your roofline, showing your eavestroughs are full and the meltwater has nowhere to go
• discoloured icicles, caused by water coming into your attic, picking up dirt, and taking it back outside
• new water stains on your ceilings, or water running down the inside of your walls and pooling in your basement
• uneven melt patterns on your roof
• hills or mounds of ice running along the bottom edge of your roof
• water running down windows or doors

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If a leak does occur, it can be a costly fix according to Steve White, owner and operator of Storm Tech, a renovations and restoration company in Prince Albert. He said the minimum it’s likely to cost someone experiencing damage from ice damming is $5,000 but repairs can cost upwards of $20,000.

“You may have to cut out finished ceilings, scrape to new drywall, paint, texture and reinstall the lights and maybe replace the floors…and that’s just for one room,” he said.

White expects his company will receive several calls for help in the coming weeks due to the recent fluctuations in temperature.

“We know it’s gonna be bad this year, because we don’t usually have temperatures like this in February and March. As a small company, on average, we can get up to 15 calls for ice damming repairs each season, but some of the larger businesses in town could get upwards of 80 calls.”

Emily Proulx, an insurance broker from Hub International said ice damming is usually a problem in older homes, but can happen anywhere.

“People really should know what type of coverage they have on their policy because this damage event may not be covered under some of the basic policies,” she said. “You may need a comprehensive policy that costs you a little more for your annual premium.”

Proulx said the coverage can be added to a policy at any time, assuming a claim isn’t imminent.

Even if you are covered, both White and Proulx said it’s best to avoid the damage to your home by preventing it in the first place by taking steps to remove the snow buildup on roofs and foundations.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com