Is Ice And Water Shield Necessary?
If You're Wondering Whether Ice And Water Shield Is Necessary Or Not, Then Read On For All The Details.
GET A FREE QUOTE
Is Ice And Water Shield Right For My Roof?
A lot goes into house construction. Among the decisions to be made include whether or not to have an ice and water shield as part of roof installation.
Is this a necessary must-have in construction, or can you bypass it? To answer this question, it’s best to understand what an ice and water shield is and its role in roofing.
What Is an Ice and Water Shield?
If shingles are applied, the modified bitumen still creates a watertight seal around their nail penetrations as well.
These peel and stick options are more convenient and effective because they do not have fasteners. Roof protectors that are applied using fasteners cannot be considered completely waterproof. There is always the chance of water seeping through the punctures created to hold the fasteners in place and eventually causing a roof leak that needs repaired.
Where Should Ice and Water Protectors Be Applied?
Here are some areas to do the installation:
- Most roofing experts will place a shield on rake edges, eaves and valleys, and overhangs. These tend to be the most vulnerable areas when it comes to wind-driven rain and ice dams. In some jurisdictions, these may be building code requirements.
- Chimneys and vent stacks should have ice and water shields underneath their flashing. This is because the flashing and or shingles in these areas rarely overlap completely. These leaves spaces that can let in water.
- Any roof features that penetrate the roof deck, including skylights and dormers
- Roofs with low inclines of between the minimum of 2:12 and 4:12 carry a higher risk of damage. Large snowdrifts can accumulate on lower sloped roofs as they tend to take the burden of snow from roofs pitched higher than them. Ice dams also have the potential of climbing higher up low sloped roofs.
- If you are building a house in an area with severe wind-driven rain or ice dams, it’s typically recommended or required to have ice and water shield over the entire surface of your roof. Otherwise your roof could be susceptible to damage, increasing the likelihood of your roof leaking during heavy rain.
Are Ice And Water Shields Necessary?
Ice and water shields are often foregone, largely because their importance is not really understood. After all, shingles and other roofing materials do direct water away from a roof, right? Well, yes and no. Shingles and most other roofing materials are designed to handle water that falls on the roof vertically.
What Happens When Water Gets Under Your Roof?
While water on your roof doesn’t hurt much, water seeping under your roof can, over time, lead to severe damage which can turn into quite a bit of money. If you are thinking about not getting ice and water shield, maybe look into the costs to install a new roof and it will likely seem like a much better idea.
Here are some possible outcomes:
Corrosion – Most house foundations are built with concrete or wooden beams. Both these materials are vulnerable to water damage. Flowing water and moisture can corrode these materials, which then interferes with your home’s structural integrity. In addition, water can cause wood to rot and cause dark, unsightly stains on wooden surfaces.
Increase Moisture In The Roof Decking – Water does not always have to get inside your roof’s interiors to cause damage. At times, moisture can be trapped inside the roof, causing sweating. There are many reasons why this happens, including insulation being too thick or having inadequate ice and water protector. A clear sign of water getting in under your roof is rotting, mold, and mildew. Always call a roofing expert whenever you spot these.
Additional Weight – Snow will usually fall on the top of the roof and melt off. However, during colder seasons, ice takes much longer to melt. This means it accumulates on the roof’s surface, adding weight to it. While a bit of snow is no cause for alarm, a lot of snow can become weighty and can begin to damage your roof’s support beams. An ice and water shield is necessary if you live in a very cold area and have a low-slope roof.
Types Of Ice and Water Shields
There are three types of ice and water shields. These are:
- Granular/sanded
- High heat
- Smooth surface
Granular shields are the thinnest of the three types and are typically applied on valleys of roofs. The smooth surface shields are used on low slopes, while high heat shields are mostly used on metal roofs. These are cotton-like fibers and do not get stuck on metal surfaces as they contract and expand.