Question 10: What Is Ice & Water Shield?
As I write this, Colorado Springs and the surrounding area is in the midst of a deep freeze with icy-cold temperatures and lots of snow. Seems like a good time to talk about a product called ice & water shield.
Ice & water shield (IWS) is an effective leak barrier for your roof and is typically installed wherever there is a potential for water entering the house through the roof. Spots like roof penetrations, side-walls, head-walls, valleys, and the eaves are all areas that produce the most leaks.
Ice & Water Shield To The Rescue!
Our preferred IWS product is WinterGuard, by CertainTeed. The official description from the CertainTeed website is, “WinterGuard is a composite material of asphalt polymers, formed into a rolled sheet.” It is an underlayment that is installed on the roof deck, under your shingles. Because it’s an asphalt polymer product, it’s elastic and kind of “rubbery.” This elasticity and rubbery-feel is what makes this such an effective leak barrier. WinterGuard, like other IWS products, seals around and grip nails or staples that penetrate it. If water does happen to get under your shingles or the flashings, it won’t follow a nail through the wood decking into your soffit boxes or worse, into your house.
Because of the likelihood of ice dams forming in cold climates, IWS is required to be installed on roofs in El Paso county which are on houses over 7000’ in elevation. It’s also a requirement on all houses in Elbert and Teller counties.
CertainTeed’s WinterGuard is the key component in Homestead Roofing’s proprietary LeakSTOPPER system, which gives a homeowner a lifetime leak warranty.
If you have any questions about ice dams, ice & water shield, or the Homestead Roofing LeakSTOPPER system, please call our office at 719-433-6991.