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Roof, eaves and attic

Ice Dam and Roof Leak Water Damage in Leominster, MA

Ice at the eaves traps meltwater that backs up under the shingles and into the attic. The drying team pulls wet insulation, dries the ceilings and walls below and documents the roof leak for the claim.

(888) 629-3140Ice dam dripping inside? Call now
Attic insulation pulled Ceiling and wall drying Roof-to-room photo logs
Heavy icicles along a snow-loaded roof edge above a row of windows
Water category1 (melt or rain)
SeasonJanuary to March
Where it showsCeilings, top of walls
Drying goal2 to 4 points of dry
Right now

First steps for ice dam and roof leak water damage

  1. Catch the drips. Set buckets under drips and move furniture out of the way.
  2. Relieve a bulge. Poke a small hole in a bulging ceiling over a bucket, standing clear.
  3. Keep off the roof. Do not chip ice from an icy roof yourself.
  4. Photograph inside and out. Capture the ice at the eaves and the stains inside.

An ice dam forms when attic heat melts snow on the upper roof and the water refreezes at the cold eaves. The ridge of ice holds back a pool of meltwater, and that water works under the shingles, through the sheathing and into the attic and the walls below.

Why older roofs here get ice dams

  • Heavy snow loads that sit on the roof for weeks
  • Thin or uneven attic insulation in older capes and colonials
  • Warm air leaking up around chimneys, lights and attic hatches
  • Short roof overhangs and gutters that fill with ice
Cost

What does ice dam and roof leak water damage cost in Leominster, MA?

Ice dam and roof leak water damage usually runs $1,000 to $8,500, set by how much attic insulation got wet and how many ceilings and walls the water reached.

Attic and one ceiling

$1,000 to $3,000
  • Some insulation removed
  • One ceiling dried
  • Clean melt water
Often near the deductible

Several rooms

$3,500 to $8,500
  • Ceilings opened
  • Exterior walls dried
  • Attic drying
Usually an insurance claim

Long-running leak

$8,500 and up
  • Wide insulation removal
  • Walls and floors wet
  • Full structural drying
Usually an insurance claim

Ranges are typical, not a quote. The water category, the square footage, the material class and how fast drying started move the number most. Try the water damage cost calculator for a closer range.

Step by step

The ice dam and roof leak water damage process

1

Attic

Wet insulation found and pulled.

2

Trace

Walls and ceilings mapped below.

3

Open

Sagging drywall drained or removed.

4

Dry

Rafters, plates and rooms dried.

How the crew handles an ice dam leak

Roof leaks start outside the room where the stain appears. The tech who does the walkthrough checks the attic first, then the top plates of exterior walls, the ceilings and the window heads below, using thermal imaging to follow the water.

The crew pulls wet cellulose or fiberglass insulation, which loses its value once soaked, and dries the rafters, sheathing and top plates. Below, the drying team drains or opens sagging ceiling drywall and sets air movers and dehumidifiers in each wet room.

Roof leaks outside of winter

Wind-driven rain from summer storms and the remnants of tropical systems also gets in at worn flashing, chimneys and skylights. The drying process is the same; the roof repair is a separate job for a roofer. Leaks that start inside the house, such as a bath or radiator above, are covered on the ceiling leak page.

The National Weather Service winter safety tips and the Ready.gov winter weather page cover heavy-snow prep.

Service area

Ice Dam and Roof Leak Water Damage across Leominster and nearby towns

Leominster, MA

Dispatch runs 24/7 across ZIP 01453, from Monument Square and the downtown mill streets to the north end, the Pleasant Street side near Sholan Farms and the Lancaster Street neighborhoods.

Nearby coverage reaches Fitchburg, Lunenburg, Lancaster, Sterling, Westminster, Princeton and Harvard.

See every neighborhood and town covered
Ice at the eaves and water inside the walls? (888) 629-3140
Related

More water damage services nearby

Ceiling opened to wet joists and insulation after a leak from aboveCeiling Leak Water DamageSee this service Air movers, dehumidifiers and poly ducting drying out a basementStructural Drying and DehumidificationSee this service Floodwater standing across a living room and kitchen after a stormFlash Flood and Storm Water CleanupSee this service
FAQ

Ice Dam and Roof Leak Water Damage questions

Still dealing with it? Dispatch runs 24/7.

Meltwater dripping through the ceiling? Call now.

(888) 629-3140 (888) 629-3140Get the ice dam leak dried
What causes an ice dam?

Heat escaping into the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the cold eaves. The ice ridge holds back meltwater that leaks under the shingles.

Does wet attic insulation have to come out?

Usually. Soaked cellulose clumps and fiberglass loses much of its value, and both hold water against the framing. Wet insulation is removed and replaced after drying.

Who removes the ice from the roof?

A roofer or a roof-snow removal service handles the ice. The restoration team handles the water inside: attic, ceilings, walls and floors.

Is ice dam damage covered by insurance?

Interior water damage from an ice dam is often covered, while the roof repair and the ice removal may be treated differently. Coverage depends on your policy, so check with your own insurer.

Why is the wall wet but not the ceiling?

Meltwater often runs down the inside of exterior walls from the top plate, so the first sign can be a stain near a window head or peeling paint low on the wall.

How do I prevent the next ice dam?

Seal air leaks into the attic, add insulation, and keep the attic cold and vented so snow melts evenly. Raking snow off the lower roof after storms also helps.

24/7 dispatch

Ice dam leaking into the rooms? Get it dried out.

Water from an ice dam soaks attic insulation, ceilings and the tops of exterior walls. The drying team pulls what is ruined and dries the framing.

(888) 629-3140Send the drying team for the ice dam
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