The 3 Types Of Ice And Water Shield
There are 3 types of ice and water shield: granular/sand surface, smooth, and high heat.
Granular or sand surface ice and water shield is used in roof valleys and is the thinnest of the 3 types. Even though its not as thick, it serves the same purpose and does the job well.
Smooth surface ice and water shield is used on low slope roofs. This type fits the situation I mentioned in the first section when a roof has a 2/12, 3/12, or 4/12 pitch.
High heat ice and water shield is made of cotton-like fibers thats used primarily on metal roofs. Because of the material its made of, it won’t stick to metal as it expands and contracts.
This prevents the metal panels from destroying the integrity of the ice and water shield. While high heat ice and water shield is used on metal, its also used with premium roof systems to add extra protection.
The Importance Of Ice And Water Shield During A Roof Replacement
Home»Blog»THE IMPORTANCE OF ICE AND WATER SHIELD DURING A ROOF REPLACEMENT
When most people think of components of a roof, they mostly think of shingles. Many people arent familiar with other components that go into a successful roof replacement. One of the most important roofing components besides shingles is the ice and water shield. Ice and water shield is a self-adhering leak barrier that is placed on the most vulnerable areas of your roof to prevent leaks.
Ice and water shield is placed along the eaves, valleys, around chimneys, and other penetrations on your roof.
Ohio state code requires ice and water to be two feet inside a heated wall. This is required in Ohio due to the potential of ice damns that can occur during the winter months. Ice dams form when the roof over the attic gets warm enough to melt the snow on the roof and causes the water to trickle down towards your gutters. Once the water trickles down past the attic area of your house, it can freeze again if its cold enough outside. Once it freezes again, and ice dam starts to form by the gutters. This can push ice, and moisture up underneath the shingles along the eaves and cause a leak. The ice and water shield is placed along the eaves to prevent any leaks from these ice dams.
Ice And Water Shield Checklist
- Not all ice underlayments are the same
- When installed correctly all water STOPS
- WATCH my VIDEOS below!
DEAR TIM: Lately Ive seen roofers install a strange product that looks like traditional felt paper, but its not. It has a peel-away backing paper, and this material sticks to the wood sheathing.
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What is it? Why would you use this on a roof? Is it something that can be added to an existing roof in case Im adding another layer of shingles? Connie G. Columbus, OH
DEAR CONNIE: Without being there, Im willing to wager that you saw ice and water shield being installed. Its an amazing roofing product that was introduced in the 1980s and has quickly become the gold standard for creating leak-free roofs in all climates.
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How Should Ice And Water Protector Be Installed On A Roof
- Ice and water protector needs to be installed directly onto the roof deck after you have placed the drip edge at the eave.
- You should install ice and water protector before other underlayments, including roof felt. Around roof features like dormers and chimneys, you should place ice and water protector below flashing.
- If two courses of IKOs ice and water protector are needed widthwise, you should apply the bottom course first. The second course should overlap the first course. The width of the side lap should be as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Installation instructions for ice and water protector products will vary by manufacturer, so always read the directions provided with the specific product youre using.
How Much Ice & Water Shield Do You Need
If youre going to have a roof replaced you should take some time to do a bit of research about ice & water shield. Owens Corning WeatherLock® Flex for example is a Flexible Self-Sealing Ice & Water Barrier that provides excellent roof deck protection against water infiltration resulting from the freeze/thaw cycle, wind-driven rains and normal water flow around eaves, rakes, valleys, vents, chimneys and skylights.
In Massachusetts its actually mandated by the building code that you have a certain amount of it on every roof. Massachusetts building codes require roofers to install ice & water shield beginning at the edge of the overhang/eave and extending at least 2-feet past the inside of the interior wall.
Now since ice & water shield comes in rolls 3 feet wide, generally one course isnt enough. Thats why the vast majority of Beantown roofs end up with 6-foot minimum of ice & water shield along their overhangs if not more!
Now, this is where 99% of all roofers get it wrong. From having been in many continuing education classes myself to renew my Construction Supervisor’s License , I can tell you that many roofers think that only 3′ or 6′ is required. They have no idea of the actual code dictating the “2-feet past the inside wall”, which with a large front porch and 8′ soffit overhang, could well be over 12′ of ice & water shield!
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The Rest Of The Roofing Materials That Make Up Your Roof
Now you know what ice and water shield is, the types, cost, and more. Remember, it’s a crucial roofing material that every roof needs to have.
However, its not the only roofing material you need to know about. Because youre about to invest a lot of money into a new roof, doesnt it make sense to know exactly what youll be paying for?
If you answered yes, we have another article breaking down the 9 roofing materials that will be part of your roof replacement.
Since 1990, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners in the Nashville area with all of their roofing needs. You can count on our high-quality workmanship that comes with a lifetime warranty to give you a roof that will last for decades.
Check out 9 Materials Included With Your Roof Replacement to learn the crucial components youll be paying for when its time to replace your roof.
Can You Put Ice And Water Shield On Entire Roof
entire roofice and watercanroofcanbarrier
. In respect to this, should I put ice and water shield on my entire roof?
You can insist on installing ice& water shielding throughout your entire roof, especially if you know your home is prone to ice dam leaks. Just be prepared for push-back from your roofer.
Subsequently, question is, do you nail down ice and water shield? Re: Question About Installing Grace Ice/water ShieldLess than 50 degrees and you need to staple your ice shield like felt. It is normally not necessary to mechanically fasten the ice shield in plus 50 tempratures.
Simply so, can ice and water shield be installed over tar paper?
But if you call them, they will tell you a single layer of ice and water shield is acceptable, no underlayment required over it.
How far up should ice and water shield go?
The minimum is typically 2 feet above the vertical projection of the inside of the exterior wall. In colder regions, a good practice is to cover the first 3 feet of roof over heated space with ice and water protector. All overhangs should also be covered.
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What Is Grace Ice And Water
Grace Ice & Water Shield® is a premier membrane composed of two waterproofing materialsan aggressive rubberized asphalt adhesive backed by a layer of high density cross laminated polyethyl- ene. The rubberized asphalt surface is backed with a foldless release paper that protects its adhesive quality.
Can You Put New Ice And Water Shield Over Old Ice And Water Shield
Apply the membrane to the entire roof deck for wind-driven rain protection. Apply a new layer of GRACE ICE & WATER SHIELD® underlayment directly over the old GCP self-adhered underlayment in retrofit applications following the standard membrane application procedure.
Its crucial to have ice and water shield installed on/around certain areas of your roof, like roof valleys, around penetrations, and on roofs that have a 2/12, 3/12, or 4/12 pitch. Because of its importance, every roof needs to have it. Theres also a code if you live in an area above the snow line in the US.
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How Much Is Ice And Water Shield
Granular or sand ice and water shield starts at $50.00 per row of material, 3 feet by 33 feet. Smooth ice and water shield costs around $100.00 per square to go under a low slope roof. High heat ice and water shield will be a little more expensive and costs around $125.00 per square.
How Long Does Ice And Water Shield Last
The original, fully-adhered roofing underlayment, Grace Ice & Water Shield®, now has an extended exposure limit of 90 days. For more than 35 years, Grace Ice & Water Shield® has been the brand that roofing contractors and architects trust most to specify and install on marquee projects around the world.
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How Far Up A Roof Should It Be Installed To Prevent Ice Dam Leaks
To prevent leaks from ice dams, you may want the product to extend up from the edge of the roof at least 3 feet, but 6 feet is better. I put it over my entire roof because ice dams can form far up a roof.
If the roof has a low slope, you absolutely want to extend the barrier product up the roof quite a distance. I would also apply it in any valleys you may have where two roof planes intersect.
What Ingredients Are In Ice And Water Shield
Ice and water shield contains asphalt cement, a special stretchable membrane, and a fancy co-polymer called styrene butadene styrene .
The SBS component makes the product very sticky.
The ice and water shield roofing material is made with a rubberized asphalt mixture that solves these problems. Because the product has a very sticky backing, it not only adheres well to the wood roofing sheathing, but it also sticks well to the layer below when you overlap the pieces.
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When To Use Ice And Water Shield
The first thing to do is check with local building codes. In some areas, ice and water shielding may be required. But even if it isnt required, in most areas, this type of underlayment is often still a wise choice because it serves as an added layer of protection against moisture.
In particular, these underlayments are a good choice in areas that experience severe weather. For instance, in hurricane-prone areas or areas that regularly see high winds, peel-and-stick underlayments help protect the roof deck from rainwater even if shingles are torn off in the wind. When shingles remain intact, the underlayment still protects against threats like wind-driven rain, which can be blown underneath shingles.
Theyre also a good idea in northern climates where snow and ice gathers on rooftops. Again, if shingles should be torn off when snow or ice breaks free, the underlayment serves as protection until repairs can be made. Another reason why peel-and-stick is a great choice in snowy areas is because as snow and ice melts and refreezes, this creates an ice dam on the roof. Ice dams form when meltwater refreezes along the roofs soffit, thus trapping additional moisture as it flows down from upper parts of the roof. Water trapped by ice dams can make its way beneath shingles, and the underlayment is necessary to protect against this seepage.
Does Ice And Water Shield Prevent Ice Dams
No. Ice & water shieldwill not prevent ice dams. Youâd get it installed simply to minimize the chances of leaks if you do get an ice dam. You should still get an ice dam removed if itâs large enough that youâre concerned that the sheer weight of the ice dam will crush your roof.
Oh, and one thing that my inner Johnnie Cochran snarled at me to mention: Leaks theoretically can still occur even if youâve got your roof covered in ice & water shield. But especially if youâve got it covering your whole roof, the odds are minuscule at best.
Proper Ice Dam Removal in 26 Seconds
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Find A Grace Ice & Water Shield Distributor
GRACE ICE & WATER SHIELD® is a versatile underlayment material that may be used on sloped roofs, under mechanically attached roof coverings such as asphalt shingles, slate, tile, cedar, and standing seam metal in many climate and assembly conditions .
GRACE ICE & WATER SHIELD® is supplied in 3 ft wide rolls of varying lengths. Membrane strips are also available in 75 ft long rolls at widths of 6 in. , 9 in. , 12 in. and 18 in. . See the Product Data chart for product information.
Are The Nail Holes In Felt Sealed
No. The nail holes through felt paper are not sealed.
Where the nails used to attach the roofing materials penetrate felt paper, the actual hole created by the nail is not sealed where it passes through the felt paper.
Water can get under the head of the nail and seep down the shaft of the nail where it passes through the felt paper. When this happens, you get leaks into your home.
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Should You Put Ice And Water Shield On The Entire Roof Deck
There are some circumstances where you may put ice and water on the whole deck and some building codes may require it. However, in most circumstances, you should not put ice and water shield on the entire roof deck. Other synthetic underlayment options such as IKOs Stormtite® provide the protection that the rest of the roof deck needs. Other underlayments typically cost less than ice and water protector, so using them on the rest of the roof is more cost-effective for the homeowner. However, you should always refer to your local building codes.
Do I Need Ice Barrier On My Roof
Its crucial to have ice and water shield installed on/around certain areas of your roof, like roof valleys, around penetrations, and on roofs that have a 2/12, 3/12, or 4/12 pitch. Because of its importance, every roof needs to have it. Theres also a code if you live in an area above the snow line in the US.
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Why Would I Want An Ice And Water Shield
Ice and water shield is technically an underlayment designed to be installed underneath a shingle, tile, or metal roof. Normally, this would be a felt underlayment commonly known as tar paper or roofing felt.
All underlayment products serve the same basic function, which is to prevent damage to the roof decking and extend the life of the roof. Underlayment provides an additional layer of protection should the shingles experience a perforation, such as from falling debris. The surface of underlayment also adheres very well to the adhesive strip found on shingles, ensuring a watertight bond.
Ice and water shield takes the idea of underlayment a step further. Whereas standard underlayment is physically attached to the roof via staples or button cap nails, ice and water shield can be installed with no fasteners.
This greatly adds to the functionality and helps alleviate the possibility of water infiltration through an errant hole. Due to its self-adhesive design, ice and water shield tends to function as a gasket around fasteners as well to reduce leaks. This is especially useful if the roof has a low pitch, which causes ice and water to loiter and accumulate.
Does The Air Temperature Cause Problems During Installation
Yes, the air temperature, as well as direct sunlight, causes problems when installing ice and water shield.
When the air temperature is above 60 F and the sun is shining on the ice and water shield product, it’s extremely sticky. It acts just like contact cement and whatever the sticky side touches, it will not pull off.
You’ll have an impossible time pulling it off of anything it touches.
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Does My Roof Need Ice Guard
Most of the United States experiences cold and snowy winter months and many homeowners encounter trouble with ice forming on their roofs during the coldest part of winter. If you have experienced this with your home, then you know it can lead to expensive roof repairs and water damage to the inside of your home while also posing the hazard of falling snow and ice on people below. There are a few things you can do to protect your home during winter, but the most important thing is to make sure your roof has an ice guard.
When an ice dam forms on a roof, it will typically develop near the eaves, close to the gutters. The ice melting causes water to trickle toward the gutter, refreezing beneath the eaves shingles. Once water starts working under shingles, the repeated cycle of freezing, melting, and refreezing will cause rapid expansion and contraction that damages the roof. Its vital to do everything you can to prevent ice dams from forming on your roof, and one of the best available options is to install an ice guard.
What Is Ice Guard?
Ventilation and Ice Dams
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