A ridge of ice sits along the eave above the gutter
Across the affected building area, that ridge is the dam itself, and meltwater is pooling behind it.
Source of the water
Wallace, SD
Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in Wallace, SD
Our building recovery team addresses water entering beneath roof materials, then dries attic insulation, framing, walls, and ceilings affected by the leak.
- Restoration phone support around the clock
- Residential and commercial loss response
- Measured extraction, cleanup, and drying
- One restoration team from assessment to dry standard
Signs to look for
When to call us for ice dam leak cleanup
As materials are evaluated, if you notice any of these problems, call us before water has more time to spread into nearby materials.
Thick icicles are hanging from the gutter line
Across the affected building area, icicles mean water is running down a warm roof and freezing at a cold edge.
A wet or stained line where the ceiling meets an exterior wall
For sound structural recovery, ice dam water enters over the top plate and drops into the corner.
Water is running out of the top of a window or a door
From the building building assessment, the wall cavity carries the water down to the first thing that blocks it, which is a window head.
It leaks on a sunny day, not during the storm
From the building building assessment, the snow needs to melt before there is any water to leak.
The roof field is clear of snow but the edge is iced
Across the affected building area, heat escaping into the attic melts snow over the heated part of the house.
What happens
How we handle ice dam leak cleanup
Our building recovery team adjusts the work to what got wet, how far the water traveled, and which materials can be saved.
Safety overhead before anything else
For sound structural recovery, wet ceiling boxes and can lights mean the circuit gets shut off from a dry location.
Stopping the meltwater at the dam
As materials are evaluated, steam removal is the correct method, and we coordinate a crew that has the equipment.
Reading the ceiling perimeter and the top of the wall
For sound structural recovery, a moisture meter runs the full length of every exterior wall in the affected room, not just the stained part.
Wall cavity access where the water came down
For sound structural recovery, baseboard or window casing comes off and small access holes let us read and dry inside the cavity.
Wet insulation at the eave removed and bagged
Across the affected building area, compacted or soaked material at the perimeter comes out in place and gets replaced with a measured R value.
Drying an assembly that is cold on one side
As materials are evaluated, the house stays heated, the wet cavity gets contained, and air movers work into the openings with an Professional dehumidifier on the room.
Talk with a restoration specialist
Water loss in Wallace, SD?
Describe the source, the impacted rooms, and when you first noticed the damage.
What to expect
What to expect from our building recovery team
As materials are evaluated, here is how we usually handle ice dam leak cleanup near Wallace, SD.
-
1
You call and we ask what the roof edge looks like
As materials are evaluated, ice ridge, icicles, snow depth and which side of the house it is on.
Your call -
2
Photograph the ice, then clear the room
From the building building assessment, take pictures of the eave from the ground while the ice is still there.
+5 minutes -
3
A crew is dispatched for cold weather work
For sound structural recovery, sealed work area, drying equipment and the steam contact get lined up together.
+15 minutes -
4
Exterior and interior documented before work starts
For sound structural recovery, we record the dam, the icicles, the gutter condition and every interior stain with dates.
On arrival -
5
The meltwater gets stopped at the eave
For sound structural recovery, steam opens channels through the dam so water drains off the roof instead of backing up under the shingles.
First hours on site -
6
The perimeter gets mapped, wall by wall
Across the affected building area, readings run the full exterior wall length, the ceiling perimeter and both sides of every window head.
First hours on site -
7
Swollen casing off, wet blown in material out at the eave
Across the affected building area, swollen window casing, failed board and soaked blown in insulation at the eave are removed and logged.
Day 1
Understanding the cost
What can affect the price
As materials are evaluated, we explain the recommended work and price before you approve the job. As materials are evaluated, these examples show what may change the estimate.
| Common situation | What the estimate may include | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Steam ice dam removal at the eave, by a specialty crew | From the building assessment, national estimate. | $400 to $1,500 |
| Interior cleanup after one ice dam leak, one room dried in place | For sound structural recovery, national estimate for perimeter ceiling and wall drying with trim removal, no demolition. | $600 to $2,000 |
| Several eaves leaking, multiple rooms with removal and drying | Across the affected building area, national estimate including wet insulation removal, drywall sections and five to seven drying days. | $3,000 to $9,000 |
| Wet attic or perimeter insulation removal and disposal, per square foot | From the building assessment, national estimate for extraction, bagging and disposal of soaked material. | $1.00 to $2.50 |
| Perimeter drywall removal with cavity drying, per square foot | As materials are evaluated, national estimate for removal, disposal and drying of the opened assembly. | $1.50 to $4.00 |
| Attic air sealing and insulation top up, by an insulation contractor | From the building assessment, national estimate for sealing attic bypasses and bringing depth back to code. From the building assessment, this is the fix, not the cleanup. | $1,200 to $4,000 |
| Heat cable installed at the eave and in the gutter, by a contractor | National estimate for a separate trade, not part of our cleanup construction-aware scope. It manages symptoms on a problem eave and adds a power bill each winter. | $600 to $2,500 |
| After hours or overnight dispatch charge | As materials are evaluated, national estimate for nights, weekends and holidays, billed once rather than per hour. | $100 to $400 nationally |
How many eaves are leaking
For sound structural recovery, one dam over one room is a contained job.How far the water ran along the wall
Across the affected building area, water spreads sideways on the top plate before it drops.Whether the ice has to be removed first
As materials are evaluated, steam removal is its own contractor visit and is usually billed hourly. For sound structural recovery, it is not optional while water is still backing up.How much ceiling, wall and trim has to come out
As materials are evaluated, board that can be dried in place costs a fraction of what removal and rebuild cost.Insulation type and depth at the perimeter
From the building assessment, blown in material at the eave has to be extracted rather than lifted out.Cold weather drying days
Across the affected building area, air movers run roughly $25 to $40 per unit per day and Professional dehumidifiers roughly $70 to $110 per unit per day.
Why timing matters
What can happen when the area stays wet
For sound structural recovery, water can keep moving into nearby materials even when the surface looks dry.
The dam rebuilds every night it refreezes
Across the affected building area, one warm afternoon and one cold night is all it takes to make more ice.
This water is above the line the roof was designed for
Across the affected building area, shingles shed running water, they do not hold standing water.
Wet insulation makes the next dam worse
From the building building assessment, soaked material at the eave stops insulating, so more heat reaches the roof deck and more snow melts.
Cold cavities hold water for weeks on their own
For sound structural recovery, framing at 35 degrees releases moisture very slowly.
Helpful service information
What to know about ice dam leak cleanup
From the building assessment, start with the short explanation. For sound structural recovery, open a card if you want a little more detail.
What is happening inside the property
For sound structural recovery, heat leaking from the house warms the roof deck over the living space.
Read the explanation
For sound structural recovery, the physics here are simple and they explain everything about where the water shows up.
How the next step is decided
From the building assessment, ice dams form where heat loss is concentrated, so they come back in the same place until that path is closed.
Read the explanation
Across the affected building area, recurrence is the part that matters for your money. From the building assessment, ice dams form where heat loss is concentrated, so they come back in the same place until that path is closed.
What may change the work
From the building assessment, it enters over the top plate at the outside wall, so the first wet materials are the ceiling perimeter and the top of the wall cavity.
Read the explanation
From the building assessment, inside the building, ice dam water behaves unlike any other leak we handle. From the building assessment, it enters over the top plate at the outside wall, so the first wet materials are the ceiling perimeter and the top of the wall cavity.
Help near you
Ice Dam Leak Cleanup near Wallace, SD
Choose your area below, or call (877) 361-7453 and describe what happened.
Common questions
Questions about ice dam leak cleanup
What is an ice dam and why does it leak?
From the building building assessment, heat escaping into your attic melts snow on the upper roof. For sound structural recovery, that water runs down and refreezes at the cold overhang, building a ridge of ice.
How much does ice dam leak cleanup cost?
As materials are evaluated, nationally, one room dried in place usually runs about $600 to $2,000. From the building building assessment, several leaking eaves with removal typically run $3,000 to $9,000.
Does insurance cover ice dam damage?
As materials are evaluated, usually yes for the interior damage, because it is treated as sudden weather damage.
Can I chip the ice off myself?
Across the affected building area, no. From the building building assessment, do not chip, hammer, chisel or pressure wash ice on a roof, and do not put a ladder against an icy building.
Should I use a roof rake or salt?
As materials are evaluated, a roof rake used from the ground is reasonable for pulling snow off the lower roof.
How is the ice actually removed?
Across the affected building area, low pressure steam is the correct method and it is what the specialty crews use.
Why is the water coming out over my window?
Across the affected building area, the water enters over the top plate and drops into the wall cavity.
Talk with a restoration specialist
Water loss in Wallace, SD?
Describe the source, the impacted rooms, and when you first noticed the damage.
Areas we serve
Water-damage help near Wallace, SD
Our building recovery team evaluate homes, businesses, and managed properties throughout Wallace, SD and nearby communities.
View the area on Google Maps