7. Complex Roofs, Soffits & Ice Dams
Roofs that leak during both snowy winters and heavy summer storms usually suffer from poor flashing at tricky transitions — especially where the main roof meets a soffit or lower roof.
Ice dams make it worse: melting snow refreezes along cold roof edges, creating a dam. Water then backs up under shingles and into soffits and joints.
Better flashing is your first line of defense (even before heat cables):
- Strip shingles down to the wood sheathing in the problem area.
- Slip a strip of adhesive ice-and-water barrier under the joint where the main roof meets the soffit.
- Overlap another piece of barrier below it, all the way down to the roof edge.
- Reshingle, sliding new metal step flashing behind the fascia (behind the gutter).
- Install valley flashing where two roofs meet, overlapping step flashing by at least 2 in.
If ice dams still cause trouble, consider roof-edge heating cables plus improved attic insulation and ventilation.
Continue reading on the next page 👇
