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ICE DAM REMOVAL
Steam ice dam removal for north metro homes
Ice melted off the roof edge with steam only, with no chopping, chiseling or pressure on your shingles.
An ice dam is a ridge of ice along the edge of a roof that holds back meltwater. With nowhere to drain, that water can back up under the shingles at the eave. Glass House removes the ice with steam only, melting it away without the force that damages shingles and gutters.
North metro winters bring repeated rounds of snow, melt and refreeze, which is how ice dams build. Winter gutter clearing is included as part of the process, and because every roof is different, removal is quoted once Carson knows your roof and its access.
Illustration
STEAM ONLY
No chopping, chiseling or pressure that could harm your roof. Winter gutter clearing is included.
★ Rated 4.9 on Google · 44 reviews
Insured to $2M
Owner-operated
Based in Ham Lake
HOW ICE DAMS FORM
Warm attic, cold eave, trapped water
Ice dams are not bad luck. They follow the same pattern on almost every home, and understanding it shows where the lasting fix lies.
WHERE A FULL GUTTER COMES IN
A gutter full of wet debris freezes into a solid plug. Meltwater then has nowhere to go, backs up under the shingles at the eave and refreezes. Fall gutter cleaning, before the first hard freeze, keeps that plug from forming.
01
Heat escapes into the attic
Warm air from the living space leaks into the attic and warms the underside of the roof, even when the air outside is well below freezing. That escaping heat is why the lasting fix lies in the attic rather than on the roof.
02
Snow melts on the warm roof
Snow lying over the warm part of the roof melts from underneath, even on a day that stays below freezing, and the meltwater runs down the roof toward the edge.
03
It refreezes at the cold eave
The eave, the part of the roof that overhangs the outside walls, has no warm space beneath it, so it stays as cold as the outdoor air. Water that reaches it freezes, and the ridge grows with every melt.
04
Water backs up under the shingles
Meltwater pools behind the ridge of ice. Shingles are made to shed water running downhill, not water standing against them, so it can work its way under them and into walls and ceilings.
WHAT YOU ARE SEEING
Signs of an ice dam, and who fixes what
From the ground, a few signs show whether ice is building at your roof edge, and whether the fix is steam, a roofer or the attic.
WHAT YOU SEE
WHAT IT USUALLY MEANS
WHO HANDLES IT
A thick ridge of ice along the roof edge
An ice dam holding back meltwater
Steam ice dam removal
Heavy icicles hanging from the gutters
Meltwater refreezing at the cold eave
Worth a closer look. Steam removal if a dam is behind them
Gutters frozen solid
Wet debris that froze into a plug
Winter gutter clearing, included with removal
Water stains on a ceiling or an outside wall
Meltwater getting in behind the ice
Steam removal for the ice, then a contractor for the damage
Loose, lifted or damaged shingles
Roof damage
A roofer. We will document what we see for you
Ice dams in the same spots every winter
Heat escaping into the attic above them
Insulation, air sealing and ventilation, which we do not do
HOW WE REMOVE IT
Steam melts it, and nothing is chopped
Ice bonds to shingles and gutters, so prying or chopping it off can tear shingles and bend gutters. Steam takes it off without force.
01
A look at the roof first
Roof conditions and access vary, so every job is quoted for your home before work begins. If a roof is too steep or too slick to work on safely that day, Carson will tell you so and plan around it.
02
Steam the ice
Illustration
A dedicated ice dam steamer melts the dam and the ice along the roof edge. The ice is melted off rather than broken off, at a pressure that cannot harm your shingles, so there is no chopping or chiseling.
03
Clear the gutters
Winter gutter clearing is part of the process, so the meltwater has somewhere to go once the ice is gone, instead of backing up behind the roof edge again.
WHY WE NEVER CHIP THE ICE
Chopping, chiseling and pressure can crack shingles, knock loose the protective granules on their surface and bend gutters, which is roof damage done while trying to solve a roof problem. Steam removes the ice without any of it.
04
Show you what we saw
Any damage we notice on the roof, gutters or fascia is documented and shown to you. Most homeowners never see their own roof edge in winter, so this is a second set of eyes when it matters most.
HONEST EXPECTATIONS
What ice dam removal can and cannot do
It clears the active ice
Steam removes the ice dam and the backed-up ice along the roof edge, and the gutters are cleared, so meltwater has a way off the roof. For a home with water coming inside, that is the first step before any repair.
The next dam is not prevented
Removal does not prevent future ice dams unless a written prevention agreement is included. If the conditions that built this dam are still in place, another one can form after the next round of snow and thaw.
It does not fix the cause
Roof, insulation, ventilation and structural causes are outside what we do. If your home builds ice dams every winter, the lasting fix is a conversation for an insulation contractor or a roofer, and we will say so plainly.
On call, storm by storm
Ice dam removal is an on-call winter service, driven by the weather rather than a schedule. There is no seasonal plan or repeat visit to sign up for; when ice builds at your eaves, reach out and Carson will arrange a visit.
IF ICE IS BUILDING
What to do, and what not to do
Ice at the roof edge makes people reach for a ladder. Please do not.
Stay off the roof
A snowy, icy roof is dangerous, and so is a ladder on frozen ground. Nothing at the roof edge is worth that risk, so keep an eye on the ice from the ground and call for help when it builds.
A roof rake, from the ground
After a heavy snow, pulling fresh snow off the lower part of the roof with a roof rake, while standing on the ground, removes snow that would otherwise feed the dam. Watch for power lines as you work.
Do not chop at it
Hammers, chisels, ice picks and pressure washers damage shingles and gutters. Even when the ice does come off that way, the roof usually pays for it in cracked shingles and loosened granules, which leave the shingles less protected from the sun.
Catch drips and take photos
If water is coming inside, catch it with buckets or towels, move belongings away from the drip and photograph the damage as you find it. Photos taken at the time help with any repair or insurance conversation later.
HOW PRICING WORKS
Quoted for your roof
YOUR ICE DAM REMOVAL, AT A GLANCE
QUOTE FIRST
Steam ice dam removal
Quoted
Priced after Carson knows the roof, the ice and the access
Winter gutter clearing
Included
Part of the process, so meltwater can drain
Damage noted
Included
Anything we see at the roof edge is documented and shown to you
Future ice dams
Ask Carson
Not prevented unless a written prevention agreement is included
Roof conditions and access vary
Quote first
Ice dam removal is quoted for your home, because roof conditions and access vary from roof to roof. Carson gives you the price before any work starts, and winter gutter clearing is included.
WAYS TO SAVE
Service Plan members
25% off any other work, holiday lighting included
Veterans
10% off any service
Same-day neighbors
15% off for both households
Preferred day
Another 5% off on top of any other saving, up to 25% in all
Seniors 65 and older
$50 off
Three projects together
10% off
Discounts don't combine — you receive whichever single saving is largest. Then a Preferred day can take another 5% off, up to 25% in all (Service Plan members aren't capped).
This season’s flash sale is shown at the foot of every page.
GUARANTEES
What backs the work, word for word
These are printed word for word on your quote, your work order and your invoice.
INCLUDED
Workmanship Standard
If we miss an area or leave normal cleanable residue, tell us and we'll re-clean or touch it up. Our guarantees cover the cleaning result — not repairs, replacements, permanent stains, or conditions that can't be safely corrected through cleaning.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
What ice dam removal includes and excludes
Steam melts the ice off instead of breaking it off, and the gutters are cleared so the water can drain.
INCLUDED
In every ice dam removal
• A look at the roof and access before we start
• Steam removal of the dam and backed-up ice at the roof edge
• Winter gutter clearing, so meltwater has somewhere to go
• Photos of any damage we notice
NOT INCLUDED
Outside ice dam removal
• Chopping, chiseling, hammering or pressure, at any time
• Preventing the next dam, unless a written prevention agreement is included
• Roof, insulation, ventilation or structural fixes
• Interior water damage repair
• Work on a roof too steep or slick that day
EQUIPMENT AND METHODS
Steam only
A dedicated ice dam steamer melts the ice off rather than breaking it off, at a pressure that cannot harm your roof. No chisels, hammers or pressure washers are used, because those crack shingles and bend gutters, and the gutters are cleared once the ice is gone.
SAFETY AND CARE
Removing ice without hurting the roof
Ice dam removal happens at the coldest, slickest time of year on the most fragile edge of your roof, so the method is built around safety.
LADDERS
Standoffs off the gutter
Every ladder carries padded standoffs, so a loaded gutter never takes the ladder's weight, and levelers for frozen, uneven ground. Ladders are set at a 4 to 1 angle and tied off above two stories before anyone climbs.
ON THE ROOF
Traction and a harness
On the roof, Carson wears roofing-specific traction footwear and uses a harness when conditions call for it, and no one walks on wet or icy shingles. When the roof is not safe that day, the work waits for a safer one.
AROUND THE HOME
Clear space below the eaves
Pets and children are welcome at home while we work. We ask only that they stay clear of the area beneath the roof edge while ice and meltwater are coming down, so no one is underfoot below the work.
THE OWNER
Why Carson removes ice with steam only
Glass House is owned and run by Carson Brenny. He grew up in Ham Lake, went to Blaine High School and has worked full-time in exterior cleaning since 2020. When you call about an ice dam, he is the one who looks at the roof, quotes it and runs the steamer.
An ice dam turns the edge of a roof into a barrier that pushes meltwater back under the shingles and into walls and ceilings. Breaking the ice off with a hammer is faster, but it cracks shingles and bends gutters, so Carson melts it off with steam and tells you plainly what is causing it.
IN CARSON'S WORDS
“It's my neighbors' homes: their biggest investment, one of the places they spend the most time, and where the people they care about most live. It's something everyone should enjoy, and I believe that.”
Carson Brenny, owner
✓
Steam only, never chiseled
✓
On call through the winter
✓
Candid about the attic heat behind it
MINNESOTA TIMING
Ice dam care, season by season
FALL
Clean gutters before the freeze
After the leaves are down and before the first hard freeze. Much of the north metro is oak country, and wet oak leaves are exactly what freezes into a plug.
EARLY WINTER
Rake from the ground
After a heavy snow, a roof rake used from the ground can pull snow off the lower roof before it melts and refreezes at the edge.
MIDWINTER
When ice builds, reach out
A thick ridge at the eave or water coming inside means it is time. Steam removal is quoted for your roof, with winter gutter clearing included.
SPRING
Look at the cause
Once the snow is gone, have a roofer check for damage. If ice dams keep returning, have the attic insulation and air sealing examined as well.
Our fall gutter cleaning runs until November 15, the end of our exterior season. Booking before then means your gutters go into winter clear of the debris that freezes into a plug.
Source: City of Blaine, Oak Wilt.
WHERE WE WORK
Ice dam removal across the north metro
Glass House is based in Ham Lake and removes ice dams throughout Anoka County and the Twin Cities north metro.
Each city page covers the local conditions that affect your roof. The surrounding north metro is served as well, and we travel farther for a small trip fee.
ICE DAM QUESTIONS
Ice dam removal FAQ
What is an ice dam?
An ice dam is a ridge of ice along the edge of a roof that keeps melting snow from draining off. Water pools behind the ridge and can back up under the shingles at the eave, where it can leak into walls and ceilings. Icicles and ice ridging along the eaves are the visible signs.
What causes ice dams?
Usually heat escaping into the attic. It melts snow on the upper roof, and the water runs down to the cold eave, the overhang past the outside walls, and refreezes. A gutter frozen solid with wet debris adds to the problem by giving meltwater nowhere to drain. The lasting fix is in the attic: insulation, air sealing and ventilation.
Why steam instead of chipping the ice off?
Ice bonds to shingles and gutters. Chopping, chiseling and pressure can crack shingles, knock granules loose and bend gutters. Steam melts the ice off rather than breaking it off, at a pressure that cannot harm the roof, so the ice is removed without the damage that force causes.
Is gutter clearing included?
Yes. Winter gutter clearing is included as part of every ice dam removal, not added on. Frozen gutters give meltwater nowhere to go, so clearing them once the ice is off gives the water a path off the roof instead of letting it back up behind the edge again.
Will removal keep ice dams from coming back?
Not on its own. Removal does not prevent future ice dams unless a written prevention agreement is included, and it does not address roof, insulation, ventilation or structural causes. If your home builds ice dams every winter, the lasting fix is a conversation for an insulation contractor or a roofer.
How much does ice dam removal cost?
Ice dam removal is quoted for your home, because roof conditions, access and the amount of ice vary from roof to roof. Carson gives you the price before any work starts, and winter gutter clearing is included in it. Sending a photo of the ice when you reach out helps him plan the visit.
Should I climb up and knock it off myself?
Please do not. Icy roofs and ladders on frozen ground are dangerous, and chopping at the ice damages shingles and gutters even when it works. A roof rake used from the ground to pull snow off the lower roof is a reasonable step, and for the ice itself, steam removal is the safer choice.
How can I keep ice dams from forming?
The lasting fix is in the attic: insulation, air sealing and ventilation keep heat from reaching the roof, and that work belongs to an insulation contractor or a roofer. Fall gutter cleaning, after the leaves are down and before the first hard freeze, keeps wet debris from freezing into a plug, although it does not stop ice dams on its own.
