What the hell? Who even knew these things existed? For my Florida and Texas readers an ice dam is a strip of ice that builds up along the edge of your roof (where you warm state dwellers have your rain gutters). Icicles form off of them. I always loved seeing beautiful icicles sparkle off our roof. I considered them an added feature of our home and have taken pictures of them glistening the sun.
Who knew they were a sign of impending doom?
What happens is, heat from your roof slowly melts the 4 feet of snow that's up there from the multiple winter storms. It melts from the inside out, creating channels of runoff under all the snow. The water tries to find its way down to the edges of the roof so it can drip off.
Unfortunately, the Evil Ice Dam Super Villain has formed an impenetrable force field of catastrophe there. Water is trapped on the roof where it sits, plotting ways to get inside your house and wreak havoc. It works its way under shingles and searches for any little crack it can find to seep down into your walls and start dripping from your bedroom window, bending the trim and puckering the paint and flooding the electrical socket and soaking the carpet on your side of the bed!
Again, who knew? Not I.
So we've been dealing with snow removers this week, who've been beating on the Evil Ice Dams with sledge hammers (seriously--serves them right though, beat the holy fuck out of them I say) and will soon be dealing with home inspectors, insurance agents, contractors and pulled up carpet. Oh, and big fat bills. How could I almost forget those? Fun.
At least I have a sassy new haircut. Otherwise I wouldn't be holding it together as well as I am. What's rotting carpet when you look this cute?
Did I mention I live in paradise?
