We handle ice dam removal across Minnesota with low-pressure steam, from Minneapolis, MN, Edina and Roseville to St. Cloud and Rochester. We melt the eave ice down to the shingles so meltwater drains off the roof again. Calls are answered 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays.
Ice dam removal means melting the ridge of ice at the roof edge, and the ice packed behind it, so snowmelt drains off the roof and stops backing up under the shingles. We do it across Minnesota with low-pressure steam. The bill mostly follows hours on the roof, which national cost surveys put at $400 to $600 an hour.
The attic above heated rooms
University of Minnesota Extension names air leaking into the attic as the major heat source behind ice dams in many homes. That heat melts roof snow from below, and the water freezes again at the cold eave.
The roof over your living space
A dam needs snow on the roof while the upper roof stays above 32°F and the eave stays below it. NOAA's normals give the Twin Cities airport 51.2 inches of snow a year, so the snow is usually there.
Worst from February into March
NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the Twin Cities airport show about 9.5 days above freezing in January and 25.1 in March. Each thaw sends more water to the eave, and each cold night adds a layer of ice.
Where two roof planes meet
Valleys, dormers and porch roofs below a taller wall collect drifting snow and drain slowly, so dams often build there first.
Ice dam steaming covers four situations we see every winter, and each one ends with water running off the roof edge again.
When water is already inside, we steam a drainage channel through the dam before anything else. Extension guidance says a channel stops working within days, so we then remove the rest of the dam.
We steam the ridge of ice off the eave in sections, down to the shingles, and free the gutter and downspout outlets so meltwater can drain.
Roof ice removal around valleys and skylights is slower work because the ice runs thick over the flashing, so we steam it back by hand.
Townhome associations and property managers call us when long shared eaves leak into several units. We work along the roof unit by unit and tell the manager which eaves held the most ice.
Three habits decide whether a roof comes through an ice dam job with its shingles intact.
Low-pressure steam softens the ice until it lets go. We never hit a dam with a hammer or chisel, because a frozen shingle breaks before the ice does.
Ice dams are the one job we do, and our steamers, hoses and ladders are set up for winter roof edges and nothing else.
Early melt above a bath fan, chimney or recessed light points to warm air leaking into the attic. We show you those spots so you know why that eave dammed.
You can check most of these from the yard or from inside, with no ladder. Our guide explains why ice dams form on Minnesota roofs.
Look along the roof edge from the yard. A raised band of ice with snow banked behind it is the dam itself.
A solid row hanging from the gutter line usually means water is reaching the edge and freezing in front of a dam.
A brown ring or bubbling paint on a top-floor ceiling along an exterior wall usually means water is coming in at the eave.
On a thaw day, check the tops of upstairs window frames. Damp trim or drips on the sill mean meltwater is inside the wall.
Ice forming on the soffit or its vents means water has already backed up past the shingles.
A bare upper roof over a deep band of snow at the edge shows heat from the house melting snow that freezes again lower down.
The price follows time on the roof. These are typical figures from national cost surveys, and your price comes from the hours your roof needs.
| Cost factor | Typical figure | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Steam removal rate | $400 to $600 an hour | Roof height, pitch and valleys |
| Time on an average roof | Two to three hours | Dam thickness and how many thaws stacked ice |
| Billing minimum | Two hours at most contractors | A small one-story eave still meets it |
| Typical total job | $600 to $1,800, national average $1,200 | Long, multi-level or shared townhome eaves |
| Snow cleared above the dam | Usually included in the ice dam price | Deep, packed snow |
We take calls from anywhere in the state, and these eight cities have their own pages. We also take calls from Saint Paul, Bloomington, Richfield, Savage, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Eagan, Burnsville and Duluth, which do not have their own page yet.
Across Minnesota
The Census counts 89,537 Minneapolis homes built in 1939 or earlier, so we ask every caller when the roof was last replaced.
Edina's median home dates from 1971, and its Building Inspections office permits roofing if dam damage leads to new shingles.
With a 1997 median build year, Woodbury dams usually trace back to attic air leaks around lights, fans and hatches.
The median home here dates from 1965, and a re-roof after dam damage goes through the city's Building and Energy Department.
NOAA's St. Cloud station averages only 6.9 thaw days in January, so dams tend to grow thick between thaws.
Shakopee's median home dates from 1999, and re-roofing is on the city's permit-required list.
Roseville's median home dates from 1969, and the city issues roofing permits over the counter.
Since May 1, 2025, Rochester requires a permit and three inspections for every residential re-roof.
Most jobs follow the same six steps, and the order matters more than speed. More on how our steam crews work.
We ask where water is showing, how many stories the house has and whether the dam sits over a valley or porch. Those answers decide the ladder and which eave we start on.
From the yard we trace the dam and any bare patches higher up, then check the ceilings you have noticed.
If a ceiling is dripping, we steam a narrow path through the dam above it first so the backed-up water drains.
We pull back only enough snow to give meltwater a route off the roof, working gently because Extension guidance notes rakes may damage roofing.
Low-pressure steam softens the ice until it releases, and we work along the eave to the drip edge. National cost surveys put an average-sized roof at two to three hours.
We clear ice from the gutter and downspout outlets, then show you which eaves held the most ice.
Every method melts or breaks ice. The difference is what each one leaves behind on your roof.
| Method | What it does to the roof | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Low-pressure steam (our method) | Softens the ice and leaves shingles and granules in place | Every dam, including valleys |
| Hammer, chisel or axe | Can crack shingles and cut into the underlayment under the ice | Nowhere on a shingled roof |
| Rock salt or calcium chloride | Melts a narrow channel slowly; runoff can corrode metal and harm plants | A short stopgap |
| Pressure washer | Can strip granules and drive water under the shingles | Rarely on shingles |
These steps keep the damage small while you wait, and none of them involve a ladder. See what to do before the crew arrives for more.
Put buckets and towels under drips and move furniture and electronics away from the wet wall.
If water is coming through a light, switch that circuit off at the panel.
Do not climb onto ice or lean a ladder on an iced gutter, which can pull away.
Take dated pictures of stains, wet walls and the dam for your insurer.
Shovel a route to the leaking eaves so we can set ladders and run the steam hose.
Extension guidance says to dry wet areas immediately, because ice dam moisture can lead to mold and mildew.
Most homeowners policies treat the water damage and the ice removal as two separate things.
MPR News reported that insurers generally cover water damage from ice dams but treat removing the dam as maintenance the homeowner pays for. A Minnesota Department of Commerce spokesperson told MPR that a claim can be denied if the insurer argues the home was not maintained, and deductibles usually run $1,000 or more. Read how ice dam insurance claims work before you file.
Water coming through a ceiling during a thaw should not wait for morning. We open a drainage channel first, then remove the rest of the dam.
Call {phone}
Call (612) 471-2509
Questions homeowners ask us most often during a Minnesota winter.
You can pull snow off from the ground with a roof rake, though University of Minnesota Extension notes rakes may damage roofing. Climbing onto an iced roof or chipping at the dam is where people get hurt and shingles break.
Yes. Water backed up behind the dam works under the shingles and can leak into ceilings, walls and insulation, according to University of Minnesota Extension. An ice dam roof leak usually shows on top-floor ceilings first.
It can, as long as snow sits on a roof warmed from below. Extension researchers name attic air leakage as the main heat source in many homes, so sealing those leaks matters most. See stopping dams before next winter.
Usually not for the dam, which comes from attic heat and weather. Minnesota's residential code does require ice barrier underlayment from the roof edge to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall, so ask whether a recent re-roof included it.
Only if no water is getting inside. A dry dam can wait for a planned visit, but the Twin Cities average 25.1 days above freezing in March, and each thaw pushes more water against the ice.
No. Removal is paid work, and insurers generally leave it to the homeowner even when they pay for the water damage. See what ice dam removal costs for typical prices.
Tell us where the ice is and where water is showing, and we will plan the visit around your roof. Between winters, our Minnesota ice dam guides cover causes and prevention.
Call {phone}
Call (612) 471-2509