Ice Dams? It’s Time to Insulate

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We’re in the thick of another long Maine winter, and if you are already tired of shoveling your sidewalks and driveways, you’re not alone. As you manage the snow around your house this year, there is one area you may be forgetting to keep a close eye on: your roof.

The roof is a common site for ice dams and icicles during the winter. If you’re starting to see ice accumulation along your roof’s edge, it is a sure sign that it’s time to upgrade your attic insulation.

Why Upgrade My Attic Insulation?

Homeowners often ask us what ice dams have to do with attic insulation. The answer has to do with how ice dams form in the first place.

Ice dam formation begins in a warm attic. Attic heat melts accumulated snow on the roof, which then flows down to the edge of the roof where it is cooler. When that melted snow reaches the roof’s edge, it refreezes and forms a “dam.” Over time, water will pool up behind this dam and seep underneath the shingles, potentially leading to mold growth, wet insulation, interior water stains, and exterior roof damage.

If you want to keep ice dams from forming, it’s important to keep heat from escaping into the attic in the first place. While heat has a natural tendency to rise in a home, attic insulation and air sealing stop rising heat from entering the attic and keep it down in your living spaces where it belongs.

Attic Insulation Offers Additional Benefits

Proper attic insulation and air sealing go a long way in keeping ice dams from forming on your roof during the winter — but that’s not the only benefit these energy saving upgrades offer. When you have a trusted insulation specialist upgrade your attic insulation, you can expect whole-home benefits like:

  • A warmer home in the winter

  • Stable comfort from room to room

  • Less need to run your heating system

  • Greater home energy efficiency

  • Lower annual heating costs

  • A cooler home in the summer

Plus, because attic insulation helps make your home more energy efficient, it qualifies for up to $2,500 in rebates from Efficiency Maine.

Evergreen Is Your Local Insulation Contractor

Don’t spend another winter putting your home at risk of the damage that ice dams can cause. If you’re seeing ice dams and icicles along the edge of your roof, talk to the team at Evergreen Home Performance about upgrading your attic insulation before your ice dams cause any damage. During a free consult, we’ll discuss your home’s pain points and show you how attic insulation can help you prevent ice dams, save money, and feel more comfortable all winter.

Seeing ice dams on your roof? It’s time for an insulation upgrade. Call 207-594-2244 or contact us to talk to your local home insulation expert!

Ice dams and icicles on your roof?

Prevent damage to your home with proper insulation 207-594-2244

Great job installing windows and insulation.

Bob S.

Rockland

Evergreen listened and produced a thoughtful evaluation, proposal and comprehensive plan for our attic and basement. They exhibited excellent workmanship, teamwork, and came back as planned after the completion of the job to test the outcomes. Their overall performance as insulation and home improvement contractors is truly outstanding and we highly recommend them.

Susan S.

Saco

We are thrilled with the job Evergreen did to transform our 213 year old home into a warm, draft-free, cozy space. The entire team led by Bruce was prompt, courteous, knowledgeable, and hard working. If Evergreen could transform our home in this way, we are sure they would make a comparable difference in YOUR home!

Jonathan M.

Bridgton

Several years ago Brian Robinson evaluated the crawl space at my summer home on Islesboro where I knew moisture was becoming a problem. I had done quite a bit of work in the space many years prior with mixed results. When Brian offered some suggestions, they were ideas that incorporated work previously done, and would be a relatively low cost effort to improve the situation. He offered this advice over several phone conversations of some length, informally, and at no charge.

Cliff R.

Islesboro

Update 12/2018: Evergreen has completed Phase II of my house (insulating and installing air/moisture barrier on exterior walls, replacing old windows) and now that heating season is upon us, the difference is astonishing. The house is tight as a drum and so easy to keep warm. Worth every penny. Thank you all! Working with Evergreen was a positive experience from start (no charge energy audit) to finish (a MUCH more comfortable home). Brian Robinson spent a lot of time with me on the audit, explaining clearly what he was finding in my ca.

Rebekah W.

Rockport

The Evergreen team was amazing from initial assessment and planning to the crew that came to complete the work. Our basement encapsulation is the best money we've spent on our house by far. The work was thorough and high quality. And what a wonderful group of people to work with. I highly recommend Evergreen!

Martha Bracy

The Evergreen Team did a fabulous job, well exceeding our expectations, In just over a week they transformed our very drafty, noisy 213 year old house into a snug, draft-free, quiet haven with warm floors! The team was prompt, did everything they said they'd do and more. We are thrilled!

Trudy M.

Bridgton

Thorough, smart, informative, integrated, and communicative -- that's how my experience was with Evergreen even with the covid interruption midstream. The team picked up where they left off, insulated basement and air sealed attic and knee wall in 100' temps under the eaves! This business group was a pleasure to work with.

Karen W.

Gray

Our basement was the eyesore of the house. I wanted to make improvements, but first needed to make structural, insulating and moisture mitigation improvements. Evergreen was professional and competent in taking on a complex project of not only encapsulation and insulation of basement and crawlspace, but completed needed improvements to the structural integrity of the wood floor platform above a crawlspace and brought in a concrete contractor to pour where there was once a rotting, tiered wood platform - replacing that area with a more functional and tight tiered concrete area.

Duane B.

East Boothbay

I cant say enough about this company and the benefits that it created for our family. They are very professional and have effectively re-insulated our home. The heating bill proves the point.

Bob O.

Springvale

I was extremely pleased with the professionalism and quality of service that I received from the Evergreen team. I met Richard to discuss options for insulation. I knew immediately that I wanted to do business with them because he did not try to over-sell extra services that I did not need. Dave was the project manager. He was not only kind, but very respectful of my home. I would highly recommend this company.

Darlyann M

Bath

In the final stages of selling our home, and with a closing date set, an inspection came across an unanticipated issue in our attic. We quickly called in contractors, but nobody was able to identify the source of the problem. Then we thought of Evergreen. Brian Robinson was on site the next morning and immediately identified the source (a faulty roofing job completed three years earlier which had effectively sealed up portions of the ridge vent and restricted air flow - not easily visible with a quick inspection).

Robin McIntosh

Camden

I would recommend Evergreen wholeheartedly because of their professionalism, their follow through, and thoughtful project planning.

Jennifer A

I am very pleased with my experience with Evergreen Home Performance. I met several times with Richard Burbank and he was very detailed in his explanations to all of my questions. He provided me with several options for improving the insulation to our home. The team of installers were very professional and respectful of our home. They did a great job of cleaning up every day after the days work and they were also very responsive to all my questions as well as we collaborated to get our home better insulated. It was a pleasure to work with Richard and…

Brian C.

Falmouth

I cannot say enough great things about working with Evergreen Home Performance. Everything including the initial consultation, the fabulous work crew, the office support and the final resolution was handled in a caring and professional manner. My only regret is that I did not know about them earlier. I enthusiastically recommend Evergreen to anyone with concerns about home energy use.

Darlene R

Bath

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