Winter roof leaks

Ice Dam Roof Leak Water Damage in Westminster, MA

When snow melts on a warm roof and refreezes at the eaves, water backs under the shingles and stains the ceiling, and the crew dries the attic, the insulation and the walls below.

(888) 629-3140Ask about an ice dam leak

Attic insulation removed Ceilings opened and dried Exterior walls checked

Heavy icicles hanging along a snowy roof edge above the gutter

CauseRoof snow melting and refreezing

DamageAttic, ceiling, exterior walls

Starting at$1,000 for one ceiling

Long leaksFrom $8,500

Right now

First steps for ice dam and roof leak water damage

Check the attic. The technician photographs wet insulation and decking before anything is moved.
Protect the rooms. Buckets, plastic and moved furniture keep dripping water off the floors.
Open the ceiling. Stained or sagging drywall is cut so trapped water can drain.
Dry the structure. Dehumidifiers and air movers work through the attic and the walls below.

Massachusetts snowstorms in 2013, 2015 and 2018 each dropped about 2 feet of snow in under 24 hours, a statewide figure from ResilientMass. In a hill town with the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area base lodge inside its borders, winter weather is part of daily life.

How an ice dam forms

Heat escaping into the attic warms the roof deck, snow melts and runs down to the cold eave, and the water refreezes into a ridge of ice. The next melt has nowhere to go, so it pools behind the ice and works under the shingles and into the ceiling.

Wet insulation that no longer insulates.
Stained or sagging ceilings under the eaves.
Peeling paint and damp exterior walls.
Dripping light fixtures that signal water above.

Cost

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

An ice dam leak into an attic and one ceiling often costs $1,000 to $3,000, several wet rooms run $3,500 to $8,500, and a long running leak starts at $8,500.

Attic and one ceiling

$1,000 to $3,000

Some insulation pulled
One ceiling dried
Clean melt water

Near many deductibles

Several rooms

$3,500 to $8,500

Ceilings opened
Outside walls dried
Attic dehumidified

Typically a claim

Leak that kept running

$8,500 and up

Wide insulation removal
Walls and floors wet
Whole structure dried

Claim with a roof repair

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

Inspect

Attic and ceiling photographed.

Protect

Floors covered, water caught.

Open

Wet drywall comes down.

Dry

Meters track the framing.

Winter damage is a known event

The December 2008 ice storm led to an Ice Storm Emergency in town and damaged many trees, and the town was still processing disaster claims for it in 2010. Winter damage here is a known event, so a stained ceiling after a thaw deserves quick attention.

Ceiling leak work follows when the water reaches the rooms below.

The roof is a separate repair

A roofer clears the ice, seals the leak and fixes the ventilation or insulation that caused the dam. The drying crew works inside, removing wet insulation, opening ceilings, drying the attic framing and checking the exterior walls under the leak. The town hub lists the matching pages for the rooms below.

Service area

Ice Dam and Roof Leak Water Damage across the city and nearby towns

Westminster, MA

Ice dam calls come from the village streets, Academy Hill and homes on the northern slope of Wachusett Mountain, as well as larger roofs on business buildings along Route 140.

The same service nearby: ice dam and roof leak water damage in Leominster, Fitchburg, Sterling.

All water services for this town

Ice dam leak? Call a drying crew now. (888) 629-3140

Ceiling opened to wet joists and insulation after a leak from above

Ceiling Leak Water Damage in WestminsterSee this service

Air movers, dehumidifiers and poly ducting drying out a basement

Structural Drying and Dehumidification in WestminsterSee this service

Ice coating a sink cabinet and floor after a supply pipe froze and split

Frozen Pipe Water Damage in WestminsterSee this service

Heavy icicles along a snow-loaded roof edge above a row of windows

Ice Dam and Roof Leak Water Damage in LeominsterSee this service

Water damage restoration in WestminsterSee this service

FAQ

Ice Dam and Roof Leak Water Damage questions

Still dealing with it? Dispatch runs 24/7.

Roof leaking after the snow?

(888) 629-3140 (888) 629-3140Talk to an ice dam crew

Is ice dam damage covered by insurance?

Many policies cover sudden water damage from a roof leak but may exclude wear on the roof itself, so the owner keeps photos of the ceiling and the ice.

Should the ice be chipped off the roof?

Hammering can damage shingles and put a person on a ladder at risk, so a roofer or a steam service handles it. The drying crew works indoors.

Why does insulation matter after an ice dam leak?

Wet insulation holds water against the framing and loses its value, so the crew removes it and the owner replaces it once the attic is dry.

Can a ceiling dry without being opened?

A small damp patch sometimes dries through a small opening, while a stained or sagging ceiling usually comes down.

What do statewide snowstorms have to do with a local leak?

The 2013, 2015 and 2018 storms each brought about 2 feet of snow in under 24 hours across the state. Deep snow on a roof feeds an ice dam when attic heat melts the underside.

When do ice dam leaks show up?

Usually during a thaw after a snowfall, when melt runs and refreezes. A stain can appear days later in a bedroom or hall.

24/7 dispatch

Dry the attic and the ceilings below

The crew removes wet insulation, opens the stained ceilings, dries the framing and keeps the dated readings the adjuster expects while the roofer handles the ice.

(888) 629-3140Call about the leak

Leominster Water Damage Restoration Westminster, MA (888) 629-3140 Open 24 / 7 / 365

(888) 629-3140 · water emergency, any hour