Ice Dam Removal Done Without Wrecking Your Roof
When an ice dam forms at the edge of your roof, meltwater has nowhere to drain. It backs up under your shingles and finds its way into your attic, your insulation, and eventually your ceilings and walls. Every hour it sits there, it does more damage.
Faria & Son Roofing removes ice dams for homeowners throughout SE Massachusetts and Rhode Island. We do it by hand, working in controlled sections and stopping short of the shingle surface, so the ice comes off without damaging the roof underneath.
Please don't try this yourself. Icy roofs and ladders are one of the most common causes of serious winter falls, and swinging a hammer or shovel at roof ice without knowing where the shingles are is how people crack them and turn a winter problem into a spring leak. Call us instead.
Our Ice Dam Removal Process
Fast Assessment
We look at where the dam has formed, how far the water has already traveled, and whether it's actively entering the home. If water is coming in, that moves to the front of the line.
Careful Hand Removal
We break up and clear the ice by hand, working in sections and leaving a thin layer against the shingles rather than cutting down into them. It takes an experienced crew that knows where the roof surface is. Done right, the ice comes off and your shingles stay intact.
Clearing Drainage Channels
Removing the visible ice isn't enough on its own. We open up drainage paths at the eaves and gutters so trapped water behind the dam actually has somewhere to go.
Damage Check & Documentation
We inspect for shingle, flashing, and gutter damage caused by the dam, and photograph what we find. If you're filing an insurance claim, you'll have documentation of the condition.
Telling You Why It Happened
Ice dams are almost always a symptom of attic heat escaping and warming the roof deck. Before we leave, we'll tell you straight whether you're looking at a one-off from an unusual storm or a ventilation problem that will do this again next winter.
"We all will remember the winter of 2026. Other than the feet of snow, I will also remember Josh Faria and his crew, spending hours cleaning my roof and chipping away the ice dams. Incredible service and dedication."
Signs You Have an Ice Dam Problem
- ✓Thick ice or large icicles along your roof edge or gutters. Icicles look harmless. A solid ridge of ice behind them is not.
- ✓Water stains appearing on ceilings or walls during or right after a snowy stretch.
- ✓Damp or wet insulation in the attic, or visible moisture on the underside of the roof deck.
- ✓Snow melting unevenly on the roof — bare patches up high while thick snow and ice sit at the eaves.
- ✓Gutters pulling away from the house under the weight of the ice.
What Not to Do
- ×Don't get on the roof or a ladder. Not worth it. This is how people get seriously hurt every winter in New England.
- ×Don't go after the ice yourself with a hammer, axe, or metal shovel. Without experience it is very easy to cut into the shingles underneath.
- ×Don't throw rock salt or ice melt on the roof. Most of it corrodes shingles, gutters, and flashing, and the runoff kills your landscaping.
- ×Don't assume it'll melt off harmlessly. By the time the ice is gone, the water may already be in your attic.
For the full breakdown of how ice dams form and how to stop them coming back, read our complete guide to ice dams and winter roof damage in New England.
Stopping Them From Coming Back
Removal solves this winter. If you're getting ice dams in the same spot year after year, the real fix is upstream: attic insulation, air sealing, and ventilation that keep your roof deck cold enough that snow doesn't melt and refreeze at the eaves. We can talk through what your roof and attic actually need.
If a roof replacement is already on the horizon, that's the ideal moment to get ice and water shield installed correctly at the eaves and valleys — the barrier that keeps backed-up water out of your home even if a dam does form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cost depends on the size of the dam, how much of the roof is affected, and how accessible the roofline is. We give you a clear price before we start, and we prioritize emergency calls where water is actively entering the home. Call 508-989-8383 for a fast assessment.
We strongly recommend against it. Climbing an icy roof or ladder is one of the most common causes of serious winter falls, and going after ice with a hammer, axe, or shovel without experience easily damages the shingles underneath, creating new leak points that show up in spring. Roof salt and ice melt products also corrode shingles and gutters. We remove ice dams by hand, working carefully in sections so the shingles underneath are not damaged.
We respond same day whenever possible, and we prioritize situations where water is actively coming into the home. Call 508-989-8383 and we'll tell you honestly when we can be there.
Many homeowners policies in Massachusetts cover interior water damage caused by ice dams, though coverage for the removal itself varies by policy. We document the damage clearly with photos so you have what you need to support a claim, and we can talk through what we're seeing on your roof.
Recurring ice dams in the same location almost always point to a specific attic insulation or ventilation problem letting heat escape and warm that section of roof deck. Removing the dam solves this winter. Fixing the underlying ventilation issue solves every winter after that. We'll tell you which one you're dealing with.
Ice Dam Removal Across SE Massachusetts & RI
We handle ice dam calls throughout Bristol County and into Rhode Island. Not sure if we cover your street? Call 508-989-8383 and we'll tell you right away.