Your roof is one of your home’s most expensive and important components. As such, you need to do everything possible to protect it against the elements. One way to do this is by installing ice and water barriers on your roof. Ice and water barriers are designed to prevent water from seeping through small cracks in your roof and can save you from costly repairs in the future. However, to enjoy the effectiveness of ice and water barriers, it’s best to hire professional roofing contractors like A&M Roofing to install the barriers expertly.
Keep reading to learn more about ice and water barriers. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the importance of ice and water barriers and how to install them on your roof properly.
What are Ice and Water Barriers?
Ice and water barriers are an essential part of any roofing system, providing an extra layer of protection from water damage. They are made from a heavy-duty rubberized asphalt material and are installed in areas where ice and snow may be present. This helps to keep water from penetrating the roof and causing water damage.
The most common types of ice and water barriers are metal, rubber, and plastic. Rubber is often used for roofs because it is flexible enough to withstand impacts from heavy objects without damaging the roof.
Benefits of Installing Ice And Water Barriers
- Protection against Ice dams
In addition to providing extra protection from water damage, ice and water barriers also help to protect against ice dams. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms along the edge of a roof during cold winter months. They form when melting snow on the roof refreezes at the edge of the roof, creating a blockage that causes water to back up and seep into the roof. As the running water seeps into the roof, it can cause serious damage to the roof and the home below.
Ice and water barriers create an additional waterproof membrane that helps prevent water from seeping into the roof and causing ice dams.
- Improved Energy Efficiency
Installing ice and water barriers can also help make your home more energy efficient. The barriers act as an additional layer of insulation, so you’ll be able to save money on energy costs in the long run.
- Improved Home Value
By installing ice and water barriers on your roof, you’ll be increasing the overall value of your home. Not only will the barriers help protect your home from potential water damage, but the additional layer of insulation will also make your home more desirable to potential buyers.
- Extended Roof Life
Ice and water barriers also help extend the life of your roof by providing an additional layer of protection against potential water damage. This extra layer of protection helps to minimize the amount of maintenance and repair that may be needed in the future.
- Increased Peace of Mind
Finally, installing ice and water barriers can give you peace of mind. Knowing that you have an extra layer of protection against water damage provides a sense of security that can’t be matched.
Where Can Ice and Water Barriers be installed
- Eaves
Ice and water barriers are typically installed along the eaves. The eaves are the edge of the roofing system, usually the tip of the roof shingles. These areas are vulnerable as it’s easy for ice dams to form along the roof edge and, over time, damage the roof shingles.
- Roof penetration
In addition to eaves, ice and water barriers can be installed around roof penetration. Roof penetration includes vulnerable areas such as chimneys, vents, and skylights. Installing ice and water barriers along these areas offers an extra layer of protection to those areas.
- Over the whole roofing system
Roof ice and water barriers can be installed beneath the whole roofing system. This will give the entire roof overall protection from water damage.
How To Install Ice and Water Barriers
When it comes to installation, it is important to make sure that the material is applied correctly and that it follows the manufacturer’s instructions. The material should be applied at the correct thickness, and it should be installed over an approved underlayment. This will ensure that the ice and water barrier is properly sealed and will allow it to provide the maximum amount of protection. Ideally, it’s best to call experts to install ice and water barriers on your roofing system.
Overall, ice and water barriers are an important part of any roofing system. Whether you reside in a region that experiences excessive snow or in areas with moderate snow, ice and water barriers will offer your top-notch roof protection.
