Guide
Snow load and ice dams on Old Tappan roofs
Written by Ultra Power Construction. The credentials page states that this contractor is licensed and insured in New Jersey and lists GAF and Owens Corning programs. Updated 2026-09-27.
Old Tappan lots are larger and more open than the towns just south, so snow sits longer and wind drifts it into valleys. The useful record is photos taken before the melt hides the leak path.
- Photograph the roof while the snow is still there
- Open lots drift snow into valleys
- Attic ventilation still has to match the ceiling
Photograph the roof while the snow is still there
Shoot eaves, valleys, and the uphill side of chimneys from a safe window or the ground. Those pictures show where the dam formed. After the melt, the ceiling stain is all that is left, and it can be several feet from the entry point.
Open lots drift snow into valleys
A valley that is fine in rain can pack with drifted snow. Metal valleys and a continuous ice-and-water sheet under them matter more here than on a sheltered in-town roof. The scope should name the valley length, not just the square count.
Attic ventilation still has to match the ceiling
A powerful ridge vent over a ceiling full of can lights and a thin insulation blanket will keep making ice. Roof replacement is the right time to add baffles, but the insulation gap is a separate line.