Looking for ice dam removal & prevention in Burnsville, MN? MN Tree Pros has been serving Burnsville and the surrounding Twin Cities metro since 2008. We're licensed, insured, and locally owned — and we actually pick up the phone.
## Ice dam removal in Minnesota An ice dam is a ridge of ice at the edge of your roof that traps meltwater behind it. The water backs up under the shingles and comes through your ceiling. Every January the Twin Cities fills up with them, and most homeowners only deal with the ice — not the reason it formed. ### Emergency removal We use **low-pressure steam**, not hammers, chisels, or pressure washers. Steam melts the ice without stripping granules off the shingles or gouging the roof deck. Anyone quoting a hatchet or a pressure washer is going to cost you a roof. - Channels cut through the dam so trapped water can drain immediately - Full dam removal at the eave and in the valleys - Gutter and downspout thawing so the system drains - Roof snow removal to stop the dam reforming next thaw ### The permanent fix Ice dams are an insulation and ventilation problem, not a weather problem. Heat leaking into the attic warms the roof deck, snow melts, the water runs down to the cold overhang, and refreezes. The fix is to keep the roof deck cold: 1. **Air seal the attic floor** — can lights, bath fans, top plates, the attic hatch, and plumbing chases. This is the single highest-value step. 2. **Insulate to R-49 or R-60** — most Twin Cities attics were built to R-19 to R-38 3. **Restore soffit-to-ridge ventilation** — including baffles so insulation does not choke the soffit vents 4. **Vent bath fans and dryers outside**, never into the attic 5. **Ice and water shield** at the eaves at the next roof replacement ### Planning ranges (Twin Cities, estimates) | Work | Typical range | |---|---| | Steam removal (per hour) | $250 – $500 | | Typical single ice dam job | $500 – $2,000 | | Roof snow removal | $300 – $900 | | Attic air sealing | $700 – $2,500 | | Attic insulation top-up to R-60 | $1,800 – $4,500 | | Soffit baffles and vent correction | $500 – $1,800 | Emergency winter calls price higher than scheduled work. Estimates only. ### Insurance note Many Minnesota homeowners policies cover the *interior* water damage from an ice dam, and some cover removal when there is active damage. They rarely cover the insulation work. Take photos before anything is touched.
Why Burnsville chooses MN Tree Pros
- · Free on-site estimates in Burnsville
- · Licensed & fully insured
- · Same-day & 24/7 storm response
- · Cleanup included on every job
- · Local crew — no out-of-state subs
- · Honest, written pricing