During a winter inspection, you notice an ice dam—a thick, solid ridge of ice that built up along the eaves. Should you report it as a visual defect? What causes this, and what does it mean to the buyer? Yes, report it. You should report a visible ice dam and recommend further investigation. In one case (Photo 1), I noted possible damage to gutters and roofing. Ice dams can cause water damage to overhangs as well as inside the home. You’ll see a heavy buildup of ice at the cold edge of the roof (Photo 2). The snow in back of the ice dam has melted, so it ...
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