Roofing Ice Dam Membrane

The purpose of ice and water underlayment is to stop water from passing through the roof system into a home.

Roofing ice dam membrane.

Ice can build up on a roof slope usually at the unheated area at the eaves forming an ice dam that prevents water from draining off the roof. Grace ice water shield roofing membrane is used as an underlayment for sloped roofs to resist water penetration due to water back up behind ice dams or wind driven rain. Snow starts to melt in certain areas of the roof which are warmer than others due to heat loss from the attic. Then install regular roofing underlayment tar paper over the top of the drip edge and over the ice barrier and continuing all the way up the roof.

Assuring integrity of the roof s waterproofing prevents leaks and consequent damage. In turn this water can creep up under the shingles causing a roof leak. Ice and water membrane is needed most to address ice damming issues during the winter. Ice and water protector sometimes also referred to as ice and water shield is a waterproof roof underlayment membrane developed to protect vulnerable areas on a roof from ice and water damage.

A roofing membrane required by building codes in the united states installed under the roofing material helps prevent leakage from ice damming but has no effect on the formation of ice dams. An ice dam is a thick rim of ice that originates along the edges of a roof when snow melts and then refreezes. Ice dam leak protection membrane is required along the eaves of roofs in parts of the united states where ice dams have a history of forming. Grace ice water shield underlayment also offers leak protection in trouble prone spots like valleys skylights protrusions and other flashing areas.

Ice and water protectors sometimes called ice and snow shields in cold climates are made with polymer modified bitumen. Install the ice barrier membrane according to the manufacturer s instructions with the drip edge installed on top of the membrane. Once this thick ice forms it prevents melting snow from running off the roof.