Ice Dam Water Damage in Lakewood, CO
With about 58 inches of snow a year, Lakewood roofs shed meltwater that can refreeze at the eaves and push back under the shingles. The drying team traces that water through outside walls and ceilings and dries it out.
(888) 532-8620Get ice dam water out of Lakewood walls
Snow melts on warm afternoons, runs to the cold eaves and freezes into a ridge of ice. Water that cannot drain backs up under the shingles and drips into the attic, the wall tops and sometimes the ceiling below. Lakewood averages about 58 inches of snow a year, enough for that cycle to repeat all winter.
First steps for ice dam water damage in Lakewood
- 1
Stay off the roof
Do not climb up or chip at the ice, since a fall or torn shingles makes things worse.
- 2
Move belongings
Clear furniture and rugs away from wet walls and set buckets under drips.
- 3
Photograph the stains
Record walls, ceilings and the icicles outside before they melt.
- 4
Call for drying
Request meter checks so hidden wet insulation is found early.
What does ice dam water damage cost in Lakewood, CO?
Ice dam water damage cleanup in Lakewood, CO generally costs $1,000 to $8,000. The number of walls and ceilings that are wet, how much insulation is soaked and how long the water ran decide the final figure.
A single wall or window
- Infrared check
- Air through the cavity
- Daily numbers
Several rooms
- Soaked insulation out
- Wall and ceiling openings
- Photos for the claim
Two floors or a long leak
- Drywall and trim removed
- Longer drying
- Several rooms staged
Ranges are typical, not a quote: category of water, square footage, material class and how fast drying started move the number most. Run the water damage cost calculator for a closer range.
How ice dam water damage is handled in Lakewood
The tech who does the walkthrough maps moisture before any equipment goes down, so the drying plan matches what is actually wet. Equipment stays until the readings say dry, not until it looks dry.
Trace the melt
Meters and infrared imaging follow water from eave to stain.
Pull the wet
Soaked insulation and ruined drywall come out.
Dry the cavity
Air movers and dehumidifiers work the framing.
Confirm
Readings are logged until materials match the dry reference.
Where ice dam water shows up
The first sign is often a stain along an outside wall or a drip at a window head, well away from where the ice sits. Water also soaks the insulation above the top plate and travels down inside the wall, where it can sit unseen for days before paint bubbles or drywall softens.
- Stains along the top of outside walls.
- Drips at window and door heads.
- Wet insulation at the eaves.
How the drying team handles it
Thermal imaging and meters trace the path from the eave to the stain, since much of it stays hidden inside the wall. Soaked insulation is pulled, small openings let air into the cavity, and air movers and dehumidifiers dry the framing until readings match a dry reference.
- Wet insulation removed at the eaves.
- Cavities opened only as far as readings call for.
- Readings logged daily for the claim.
Reducing ice dams next winter
Sealing attic air leaks, adding insulation and keeping vents clear keep the roof deck cold, which stops the melt-and-refreeze cycle. A roofer or insulation contractor handles that work. Hail roof leak water damage covers leaks from storm-damaged shingles, and ceiling leak water damage covers stains that begin below.
Ice dam water damage across Lakewood and nearby towns
Ice dam leaks are dried from Two Creeks and Eiber to Green Mountain Village and the Colorado Highway 121 side, across ZIP 80227, 80228, 80232, 80214, 80215 and 80226.
The same service nearby: ice dam water damage in Golden, Edgewater, Wheat Ridge.
Related water damage services in Lakewood
Ice Dam Water Damage questions in Lakewood, CO
Why does an ice dam leak inside when the roof looks fine?
Water enters under the shingles at the eave and runs down inside the wall, so the stain can sit far from the ice itself.
Is snowmelt leak water clean?
It starts as clean Category 1 water, though it can pick up dirt from the roof and attic as it travels.
Can I clear the ice myself?
Chipping at ice can tear shingles and invite a fall. Leave removal to a roofer using safe methods, and call the drying team for the water inside.
How long does drying take?
Often three to six days, and longer when the water soaked a whole wall or several rooms.
Will insulation have to be replaced?
Wet insulation holds water against drywall and framing, so soaked batts are usually removed and replaced once the structure is dry.
Does insurance cover ice dam leaks?
Sudden water damage from an ice dam is often covered, while long-term neglect often is not. Your policy decides, so check with your insurer.
Snow melting into the walls? Get it dried.
Ice dam water hides in outside walls and attic edges. The crew follows it with thermal imaging before it spreads.
(888) 532-8620Lakewood eave leak crew, 24/7- Dispatch around the clock
- IICRC S500 drying standard
- Moisture logs for the claim file
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