What is an Ice and Water Shield and Why Do I Need It?

You  may have heard the term, and it may seem obvious, but Ice and Water Shield does a lot more than the name implies.  So read on to learn more!

What is Ice and Water Shield?

Ice and water shield is an underlayment product materials and installation costs. It goes underneath your shingles. Shingles are designed to shed water off using the angle or your roof and gravity to keep water from settling in one spot and seeping through.  When it snows or if ice is sitting on your roof it is not shedding off. Water will find the path of least resistance and seep its way underneath a shingle if it is sitting there for too long.

An ice and water shield is a rubberized product that has an adhesive which sticks to your underlayment.  The felt layer and the shingles go on top. You won’t see this layer when the roof is finished. When it is placed at the edge of your roof it will cover the gap that is created between the fascia board and the decking.

This shield will not let the seepage through that is caused by water, snow or ice sitting on your roof.  It will prevent most leaks in these areas. It is a relatively inexpensive addition to your roof but it will prevent very costly and damaging leaks.

Is it required?

Ice and Water shield wasn’t always a required feature when installing a new roof or replacing an old one.  But due to the inherent risks of not having it most building codes now require that it be installed on every roof. You would check with your city’s building code department to see if this is true for your city.

Is it placed in other places besides the edge of my roof?

It is important to secure any area where shingles meet a differing material.  You definitely want to put it where the shingles meet the edge of the roof, these are called the eaves and rakes. But also, anywhere there is a penetration in the roof.  You find these where vents and boots stick out of your roof.  Or the edge where the shingles meet a chimney. And an important place where water often pools is in the valley or your roof, where two angles on your roof meet together.  

Other reasons to use ice and water shield

Storms and natural weather upheavals are found in any area.  It isn’t just the blizzard ridden northern geography that needs to worry about water pooling on their roofs.  If there is a strong windstorm it can blow shingles off your roof, leaving it exposed.  Strong sun and drier areas are known to leave shingles with cracks.  These vulnerable areas also benefit from having ice and water shield installed.

Your roof is an expensive, crucial part of your home. Making sure that the foundation layers are sound will give you peace of mind and ultimately benefit your pocket book.