A ridge of ice sits along the eave above the gutter
Through the final dry check, that ridge is the dam itself, and meltwater is pooling behind it.
Source of the water
Applegate, CA
Our water-damage technicians addresses water entering beneath roof materials, then dries attic insulation, framing, walls, and ceilings affected by the leak.
Signs to look for
As moisture readings guide drying, if you notice any of these problems, call us before water has more time to spread into nearby materials.
Through the final dry check, that ridge is the dam itself, and meltwater is pooling behind it.
Through the final dry check, icicles mean water is running down a warm roof and freezing at a cold edge.
To control the wet boundary, ice dam water enters over the top plate and drops into the corner.
From the source check, the wall cavity carries the water down to the first thing that blocks it, which is a window head.
From the source check, the snow needs to melt before there is any water to leak.
Through the final dry check, heat escaping into the attic melts snow over the heated part of the house.
What happens
Our water-damage technicians adjusts the work to what got wet, how far the water traveled, and which materials can be saved.
To control the wet boundary, wet ceiling boxes and can lights mean the circuit gets shut off from a dry location.
As moisture readings guide drying, steam removal is the correct method, and we coordinate a crew that has the equipment.
To control the wet boundary, a moisture meter runs the full length of every exterior wall in the affected room, not just the stained part.
To control the wet boundary, baseboard or window casing comes off and small access holes let us read and dry inside the cavity.
Through the final dry check, compacted or soaked material at the perimeter comes out in place and gets replaced with a measured R value.
As moisture readings guide drying, 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
From the source check, here is how we usually handle ice dam leak cleanup near Applegate, CA.
As moisture readings guide drying, ice ridge, icicles, snow depth and which side of the house it is on.
Your callFrom the source check, take pictures of the eave from the ground while the ice is still there.
+5 minutesTo control the wet boundary, sealed work area, drying equipment and the steam contact get lined up together.
+15 minutesTo control the wet boundary, we record the dam, the icicles, the gutter condition and every interior stain with dates.
On arrivalTo control the wet boundary, steam opens channels through the dam so water drains off the roof instead of backing up under the shingles.
First hours on siteThrough the final dry check, readings run the full exterior wall length, the ceiling perimeter and both sides of every window head.
First hours on siteThrough the final dry check, swollen window casing, failed board and soaked blown in insulation at the eave are removed and logged.
Day 1Understanding the cost
As moisture readings guide drying, we explain the recommended work and price before you approve the job. As moisture readings guide drying, these examples show what may change the estimate.
| Common situation | What the estimate may include | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Steam ice dam removal at the eave, by a specialty crew | From the source check, national estimate. | $400 to $1,500 |
| Interior cleanup after one ice dam leak, one room dried in place | To control the wet boundary, national estimate for perimeter ceiling and wall drying with trim removal, no demolition. | $600 to $2,000 |
| Several eaves leaking, multiple rooms with removal and drying | Through the final dry check, national estimate 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 | From the source check, national estimate for extraction, bagging and disposal of soaked material. | $1.00 to $2.50 |
| Perimeter drywall removal with cavity drying, per square foot | As moisture readings guide drying, national estimate 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 | From the source check, national estimate for sealing attic bypasses and bringing depth back to code. From the source check, 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 estimate for a separate trade, not part of our cleanup drying 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 | As moisture readings guide drying, national estimate for nights, weekends and holidays, billed once rather than per hour. | $100 to $400 nationally |
How many eaves are leaking
To control the wet boundary, one dam over one room is a contained job.
How far the water ran along the wall
Through the final dry check, water spreads sideways on the top plate before it drops.
Whether the ice has to be removed first
As moisture readings guide drying, steam removal is its own contractor visit and is usually billed hourly.
How much ceiling, wall and trim has to come out
As moisture readings guide drying, board that can be dried in place costs a fraction of what removal and rebuild cost.
Insulation type and depth at the perimeter
From the source check, blown in material at the eave has to be extracted rather than lifted out.
Cold weather drying days
Through the final dry check, air movers run roughly $25 to $40 per unit per day and Professional dehumidifiers roughly $70 to $110 per unit per day.
Why timing matters
To control the wet boundary, water can keep moving into nearby materials even when the surface looks dry.
Through the final dry check, one warm afternoon and one cold night is all it takes to make more ice.
Through the final dry check, shingles shed running water, they do not hold standing water.
From the source check, soaked material at the eave stops insulating, so more heat reaches the roof deck and more snow melts.
To control the wet boundary, framing at 35 degrees releases moisture very slowly.
Helpful service information
From the source check, start with the short explanation. To control the wet boundary, open a card if you want a little more detail.
To control the wet boundary, heat leaking from the house warms the roof deck over the living space.
To control the wet boundary, the physics here are simple and they explain everything about where the water shows up.
From the source check, ice dams form where heat loss is concentrated, so they come back in the same place until that path is closed.
Through the final dry check, recurrence is the part that matters for your money. From the source check, ice dams form where heat loss is concentrated, so they come back in the same place until that path is closed.
From the source check, 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.
From the source check, inside the building, ice dam water behaves unlike any other leak we handle. From the source check, 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 (877) 734-0262 and describe what happened.
Common questions
From the source check, heat escaping into your attic melts snow on the upper roof. To control the wet boundary, that water runs down and refreezes at the cold overhang, building a ridge of ice.
As moisture readings guide drying, nationally, one room dried in place usually runs about $600 to $2,000. From the source check, several leaking eaves with removal typically run $3,000 to $9,000.
As moisture readings guide drying, usually yes for the interior damage, because it is treated as sudden weather damage.
Through the final dry check, no. From the source check, do not chip, hammer, chisel or pressure wash ice on a roof, and do not put a ladder against an icy building.
As moisture readings guide drying, a roof rake used from the ground is reasonable for pulling snow off the lower roof.
Through the final dry check, low pressure steam is the correct method and it is what the specialty crews use.
Through the final dry check, the water enters over the top plate and drops into the wall cavity.
Talk with a restoration specialist
Describe the source, the impacted rooms, and when you first noticed the damage.
Areas we serve
Our water-damage technicians trace homes, businesses, and managed properties throughout Applegate, CA and nearby communities.
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