Source of the water
Nationwide
Our hands-on restoration team addresses water entering beneath roof materials, then dries attic insulation, framing, walls, and ceilings affected by the leak.
Signs to keep an eye out for
Before we get to work, if you notice any of these problems, call us before water has more time to spread into nearby materials.
To straighten this out, that ridge is the dam itself, and meltwater is pooling behind it. In plain words, photograph it from the ground now, since it is the proof of cause and it disappears with the weather.
To straighten this out, icicles mean water is running down a warm roof and freezing at a cold edge.
Once we are on the job site, ice dam water enters over the top plate and drops into the corner.
In plain words, the wall cavity carries the water down to the first thing that blocks it, which is a window head.
In plain words, the snow needs to melt before there is any water to leak. In plain words, a leak that starts when the sun comes out after a snowfall is diagnostic.
To straighten this out, heat escaping into the attic melts snow over the heated part of the house.
What happens
Our hands-on restoration team adjusts the work to what got wet, how far the water traveled, and which materials can be saved.
Once we are on the job site, wet ceiling boxes and can lights mean the circuit gets shut off from a dry location.
Before we get to work, steam removal is the correct method, and we coordinate a crew that has the equipment.
Once we are on the job site, a moisture meter runs the full length of every exterior wall in the affected room, not just the stained part.
Once we are on the job site, baseboard or window casing comes off and small access holes let us read and dry inside the cavity.
To straighten this out, compacted or soaked material at the perimeter comes out in place and gets replaced with a measured R value.
Before we get to work, the house stays heated, the wet cavity gets contained, and air movers work into the openings with an Professional dehumidifier on the room.
Talk with a restoration specialist
Describe the source, the impacted rooms, and when you first noticed the damage.
What to expect
Here is how we as a rule handle ice dam leak cleanup near the United States.
Before we get to work, ice ridge, icicles, snow depth and which side of the house it is on. To straighten this out, those four answers let us know whether steam removal comes on the first trip.
Your callIn plain words, take pictures of the eave from the ground while the ice is still there.
+5 minutesBefore we get to work, sealed work area, drying gear and the steam contact get lined up together. Before we get to work, winter calls come in clusters during a thaw, so we sequence by severity.
+15 minutesOnce we are on the job site, we record the dam, the icicles, the gutter condition and every interior stain with dates.
On arrivalOnce we are on the job site, steam opens channels through the dam so water drains off the roof instead of backing up under the shingles.
First hours on siteTo straighten this out, readings run the full exterior wall length, the ceiling perimeter and both sides of every window head.
First hours on siteTo straighten this out, swollen window casing, failed board and soaked blown in insulation at the eave are removed and logged.
Day 1Understanding the cost
We spell out the recommended work and price before you approve the job. These examples show what may change the price breakdown.
| Common situation | What the estimate may include | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Steam ice dam removal at the eave, by a specialty crew | National price breakdown. Commonly billed hourly at right around $250 to $500 per hour, typically one to three hours, with a minimum charge. | $400 to $1,500 |
| Interior cleanup after one ice dam leak, one room dried in place | National price breakdown for perimeter ceiling and wall drying with trim removal, no demolition. | $600 to $2,000 |
| Several eaves leaking, multiple rooms with removal and drying | National price breakdown including wet insulation removal, drywall sections and five to seven drying days. | $3,000 to $9,000 |
| Wet attic or perimeter insulation removal and disposal, per square foot | National price breakdown for extraction, bagging and disposal of soaked material. | $1.00 to $2.50 |
| Perimeter drywall removal with cavity drying, per square foot | National price breakdown for removal, disposal and drying of the opened assembly. | $1.50 to $4.00 |
| Attic air sealing and insulation top up, by an insulation contractor | National price breakdown for sealing attic bypasses and bringing depth back to code. This is the fix, not the cleanup. | $1,200 to $4,000 |
| Heat cable installed at the eave and in the gutter, by a contractor | National price breakdown for a separate trade, not part of our cleanup work plan. It manages symptoms on a problem eave and adds a power bill each winter. | $600 to $2,500 |
| After hours or overnight dispatch charge | National price breakdown for nights, weekends and holidays, billed once rather than per hour. | $100 to $400 nationally |
How many eaves are leaking
Once we are on the job site, one dam over one room is a contained job.
How far the water ran along the wall
To straighten this out, water spreads sideways on the top plate before it drops. To straighten this out, a four foot stain frequently means fifteen feet of wet cavity.
Whether the ice has to be removed first
Steam removal is its own contractor visit and is as a rule billed hourly. It is not optional while water is still backing up.
How much ceiling, wall and trim has to come out
Before we get to work, board that can be dried in place costs a fraction of what removal and rebuild cost.
Insulation type and depth at the perimeter
In plain words, blown in material at the eave has to be extracted rather than lifted out.
Cold weather drying days
Air movers run right around $25 to $40 per unit per day and Professional dehumidifiers right around $70 to $110 per unit per day.
Why timing matters
Once we are on the job site, water can keep moving into nearby materials even when the surface looks dry.
To straighten this out, one warm afternoon and one cold night is all it takes to make more ice.
Once we are on the job site, shingles shed running water, they do not hold water left standing. In plain words, behind a dam the water sits above every lap and drip edge and simply walks in.
In plain words, soaked material at the eave stops insulating, so more heat reaches the roof deck and more snow melts.
Once we are on the job site, framing at 35 degrees releases moisture very slowly.
Helpful service information
In plain words, start with the short explanation. Once we are on the job site, open a card if you want a little more detail.
Heat leaking from the house warms the roof deck over the living space.
The physics here are simple and they explain everything about where the water turns up. Heat leaking from the house warms the roof deck over the living space.
In plain words, ice dams form where heat loss is concentrated, so they come back in the same place until that path is closed.
To straighten this out, recurrence is the part that matters for your money. In plain words, ice dams form where heat loss is concentrated, so they come back in the same place until that path is closed.
It enters over the top plate at the outside wall, so the first wet materials are the ceiling perimeter and the top of the wall cavity.
Inside the building, ice dam water behaves unlike any other leak we take on. It enters over the top plate at the outside wall, so the first wet materials are the ceiling perimeter and the top of the wall cavity.
Help near you
Choose your area below, or call (833) 493-2559 and describe what happened.
You may also need
Our hands-on restoration team finds the area that got wet below a roof leak and dries ceilings, walls, insulation, flooring, and hidden cavities.
Get a Quote: (833) 493-2559Our hands-on restoration team finds and dries moisture in attic insulation, framing, and ceilings after roof leaks, condensation, or plumbing failures.
Get a Quote: (833) 493-2559Our hands-on restoration team locates the source, removes unsafe wet ceiling materials, and dries the cavity to prevent additional sagging and damage.
Get a Quote: (833) 493-2559Our hands-on restoration team finds moisture inside walls and uses targeted drying or controlled removal to protect framing and nearby finishes.
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Get a Quote: (833) 493-2559Our hands-on restoration team removes water, damaged materials, and residue, then cleans and dries affected rooms so repair work can move forward.
Get a Quote: (833) 493-2559Common questions
In plain words, heat escaping into your attic melts snow on the upper roof. Once we are on the job site, that water runs down and refreezes at the cold overhang, building a ridge of ice.
To straighten this out, nationally, one room dried in place as a rule runs about $600 to $2,000. Before we get to work, a few leaking eaves with removal typically run $3,000 to $9,000.
Before we get to work, as a rule yes for the interior damage, since it is treated as sudden weather damage. To straighten this out, many carriers also reimburse ice removal as mitigation.
To straighten this out, no. In plain words, do not chip, hammer, chisel or pressure wash ice on a roof, and do not put a ladder against an icy building.
Before we get to work, a roof rake used from the ground is reasonable for pulling snow off the lower roof. In plain words, keep it away from overhead power lines and stand clear of what comes down.
To straighten this out, low pressure steam is the correct method and it is what the specialty crews use.
To straighten this out, the water enters over the top plate and drops into the wall cavity. Once we are on the job site, it runs down the framing until something blocks it, and a window head is the first thing that does.
Talk with a restoration specialist
Describe the source, the impacted rooms, and when you first noticed the damage.
Areas we serve
Before we get to work, identify your state to reach restoration assessment, extraction, cleanup, and drying service in your area.
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