Eave barrier
Membrane along the eave from the edge up past the warm wall line. It is the most common use, and it protects the part of the roof where dams form first.
Serving Marion County
Ice Barrier Underlayment Installation in Indianapolis, IN
A self-adhering membrane along the eaves and valleys, laid under the covering to keep ice-dam water away from the decking.
- Ice dams and freeze-thaw
- Marion County and suburbs
- Roof repair and replacement
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 751-2102. Or send this and we call you back.
Ice Barrier
Ice Barrier Underlayment Installation: what it covers
Quick answer
Ice barrier underlayment is a self-adhering membrane laid under the shingles along the eaves and in the valleys. It seals the nail holes and the joints where ice-dam water would get under the covering. In Indianapolis, where freeze-thaw cycles build dams at the eave, the barrier is a common part of a replacement and a common question after a hard winter. It does not stop ice from forming.
An ice dam is not the water's only route under a roof. Meltwater that backs up behind a dam finds the nail holes and the joints in the shingles, and it runs under them to the decking. The ice barrier is the membrane that stops that water where it would otherwise get in.
Indianapolis Roofing connects Indianapolis callers with a local technician who checks where a barrier is needed and how far it should run. The barrier is installed by an independent local company, to the membrane maker's details, and the installation is recorded.
The sections below explain where the barrier goes, what it does and does not do, and what to ask for when it is part of a job.
- Service area
- Indianapolis & Marion County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7
- Phone
- (833) 751-2102
What does an ice barrier do, and what does it not do?
An ice barrier seals the nail holes and the joints under the shingles, so meltwater that backs up behind an ice dam cannot reach the decking. It does not stop ice from forming, and it does not remove an existing dam.
The membrane is self-adhering. It bonds to the deck and seals around each nail as the covering is fixed, so water that gets under the shingles is held by the membrane rather than running to the decking. It is a second line of defense, and the shingles remain the first.
The barrier cannot stop the cause. An attic that leaks warm air will still melt snow, and the dam will still form at the eave. The barrier protects the decking while the cause is being corrected, and the report says where the cause also needs work.
Where does the barrier go on an Indianapolis roof?
The barrier goes along the eave, from the edge up past the warm wall line, and along the valleys. The extent is set by where the dams form and how far the warm part of the roof reaches.
The warm wall line is the point on the roof above which the house's heat keeps the snow melting. A barrier that stops short of that line leaves the place where the melt starts unprotected, so the extent is set to run past it.
Valleys collect meltwater from two roof planes, and they are a common route for dam water. The barrier is run along each valley, with the overlap the maker specifies, and the valley metal is fixed over it.
How is the barrier installed so it lasts?
The deck is made clean and sound, the membrane is laid in courses with the correct overlap and it is rolled firmly so it bonds. Each step is checked, because a barrier that is laid badly leaks at the joints it was meant to protect.
A damp or rough deck stops the membrane from bonding, so the deck is dry and cleaned before the membrane goes on. Soft boards are replaced first. The installer works in weather that the maker allows, because the adhesive does not bond in cold or wet conditions.
The overlap is what keeps water out. Each course must cover the one below, and the seams at the ends must be lapped correctly. The technician checks the overlaps at each course and records them.
Does a barrier change the warranty or the claim?
It can. The membrane has its own warranty, and the installer's warranty may cover the work. An insurer may ask about the barrier after an ice claim, so the installation record is kept with the roof record.
The membrane maker sets out its own warranty and its conditions. Read them before the job, and ask the installer how the barrier is covered once the covering is on.
The insurer decides what the policy covers and whether any ice damage is included. The installation record shows what was installed, where and to what extent, and it is a useful part of the claim file.
When should a barrier be considered?
When an ice dam has formed at the same eave in more than one winter, when water has come through the ceiling near an exterior wall, or when a roof is being replaced on a house with a history of dams. A technician can say whether it is the right answer.
A barrier is a sensible addition to a replacement in a climate with winter ice. It is cheaper to include it in a new covering than to add it later, and the record shows its extent for the next repair.
A barrier is not a substitute for attic work. A house with warm air leaking into the attic will still form dams, so the barrier and the attic sealing are usually done together.
Warning signs
Signs you need ice barrier underlayment installation
Ice barrier installation is done on a roof, often on a steep pitch, with a membrane that is slippery until it is fixed. Do not walk on the membrane before it is bonded, and do not work on a roof in ice or heavy wet. Keep people and pets clear of the area below the eave, and let the installer control the access and the cleanup.
- An ice dam that has formed at the same eave in more than one winter
- Water stains on the ceiling near an exterior wall after each thaw
- A valley that holds ice for weeks in the winter
- A replacement roof on a house with a history of dams
- Decking that is damp at the eave while the rest of the roof is dry
- Shingles lifted at the eave after a winter of ice
- A roof installed without a barrier at the eave in a cold climate
Our process
How our ice barrier underlayment installation visit works
Find the places water would enter
The eave, the valleys and the walls where snow collects are checked, together with the attic findings. These are the places where a barrier does the most good.
Set the extent of the barrier
The barrier is set to run from the eave edge up past the warm wall line, and along each valley, with the overlap the membrane maker specifies. The extent is marked before the covering comes off.
Prepare the deck
The decking is cleaned and checked for soft spots, since a membrane cannot bond well to a damp or rough surface. Soft boards are replaced before the membrane goes on.
Lay and roll the membrane
The membrane is laid in courses from the eave upward, with each course overlapping the one below. It is rolled firmly so it bonds, and the nail holes are sealed by the adhesive once the covering is fixed.
Record the barrier with the roof
The installer records where the barrier was placed and to what extent. The record goes into the roof file, so a later repair does not disturb it by accident.
Options
Types and options for ice barrier underlayment installation
Valley barrier
Membrane run along each valley, where meltwater collects and runs under the shingles. It is laid under the valley metal or the shingles as the job requires.
Full-deck barrier
Membrane over the whole deck, used where the roof has a long history of dams or where the design calls for it. It is planned with the ventilation, so the attic is kept cool.
Skip the guesswork. Call for a straight answer.
Tell us what's happening and we'll tell you honestly whether it's a quick fix, and what ice barrier underlayment installation should cost.
Marion County
Why ice barrier underlayment installation is different in Central Indiana
Indianapolis winters bring the freeze-thaw cycles that build ice dams at the eave, and the NWS Indianapolis office's record of the January 2005 ice storm shows what ice can do across the state. A barrier at the eave is the part of a roof that is most often asked about after a winter like that.
Valleys on older roofs in Broad Ripple and Irvington, and on newer houses in Carmel, Fishers and Greenwood, are where meltwater collects. The barrier is run along each valley, and the record for each house notes its extent.
The barrier is laid in the warmer months of the year, when the adhesive bonds properly, and the autumn before the first freeze is a good time to plan the work. The technician sets a date that suits the weather and the job.
Related
Related services
Ice Dam Roof Repair
Clearing the eaves, finding where ice-dam water got in, and repairing the roof and attic so the next thaw does not repeat it.
Attic Air Sealing and Ventilation for Ice Dams
Sealing the warm air that melts the snow, clearing the soffit vents and balancing the attic so the eave stays cold.
Roof Replacement
A full replacement planned from a written inspection, with the decking, the underlayment and the ventilation explained before the work starts.
New Roof Installation in the Suburbs
A first roof or a new covering for a suburban house, installed to the maker's details and recorded so the owner has a clear baseline.
Where we work
Ice Barrier Underlayment Installation across Marion County
- Ice Barrier in Indianapolis
- Ice Barrier in Haughville
- Ice Barrier in Fountain Square
- Ice Barrier in Meridian-Kessler
- Ice Barrier in Beech Grove
- Ice Barrier in Irvington
- Ice Barrier in Lawrence
- Ice Barrier in Speedway
- Ice Barrier in Southport
- Ice Barrier in Decatur Township
- Ice Barrier in Broad Ripple
- Ice Barrier in Clermont
- Ice Barrier in Cumberland
- Ice Barrier in Castleton
- Ice Barrier in Greenwood
- Ice Barrier in Camby
- Ice Barrier in Avon
- Ice Barrier in Brownsburg
- Ice Barrier in Plainfield
- Ice Barrier in New Palestine
- Ice Barrier in Carmel
- Ice Barrier in Zionsville
- Ice Barrier in Fishers
- Ice Barrier in Whiteland
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Guides
Read before you book
What should you do about an ice dam on an Indianapolis roof?
When an ice dam forms on an Indianapolis roof, keep people away from the eave, protect the rooms below from water, and find where the water is getting in before anything is chipped or heated.
Who handles permits and paperwork for a roof job in Indianapolis?
The independent local company that does the roof work answers for the permits, registrations and insurance its job requires.
How do you care for an older roof in Broad Ripple or Irvington?
Caring for an older roof in Broad Ripple or Irvington starts with the attic: its framing, its ventilation and the warm air that feeds the ice dams at the eave.
FAQ
Ice Barrier Underlayment Installation FAQs
Will an ice barrier stop ice dams?
No. It does not stop ice from forming. It stops the meltwater from reaching the decking through the shingles, and it protects the roof while the cause is corrected.
Do I need one on every roof?
Not every roof. It is common along the eave and in the valleys of a roof in a climate with winter ice, and the technician explains where it is needed and why.
Can an ice barrier be added to an existing roof?
Sometimes, if the covering is removed along the eave. The technician says whether a partial installation is practical, or whether the barrier is better added at the next replacement.
How long does the membrane last?
It depends on the product and the installation. The maker's warranty states the term and the conditions, and that is the figure to read.
Who installs the barrier?
An independent local company that holds its own insurance and permits. Ask for its details in writing before the job starts.
How do I book?
Call (833) 751-2102. The line is answered around the clock, and a visit can be booked to check the eave and the valleys before the work is scoped.