Ice Dams in Minneapolis & St. Paul Area and Beyond

Not Just Removal — We Diagnose the Root Cause

Focused Consultations Using Building Science for Long-Term Solutions

Ice dams aren’t a roof problem — they’re a building science problem.

Most companies treat ice dams as a surface issue: show up, melt the ice, and leave.
We do things differently.


We do things different…

At New Leaf Restorations, we provide Focused Ice Dam Consultations across Minneapolis, St. Paul, Plymouth, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Northfield, Lakeville, Edina, Kenwood, Linden Hills, Mac-Groveland, and surrounding areas. If your home was built in the 70’s, 80’s, or 90’s, your home could be at risk. Our goal isn’t just to remove the ice — it’s to understand why the ice formed, what the home is telling us, and how to correct the underlying building-performance issues.

Older and historic homes have complex insulation patterns, attic bypasses, temperature variations, roof shapes, and decorative details that create conditions for ice dams. Without identifying the underlying science, the problem comes back every winter.

Our consultations give you answers, not temporary relief.

 What Is a Focused Ice Dam Consultation?

A Focused Consultation is a structured, building-science-driven evaluation of your home’s thermal performance, moisture pathways, and attic/roof behavior.

During the visit, we:

  • Study melt patterns and roof temperature variations

  • Inspect soffits, ventilation channels, and insulation conditions

  • Look for attic air leaks and bypasses

  • Identify warm spots where conditioned air is escaping

  • Assess moisture levels and potential wet insulation

  • Document structural or exterior signs of water intrusion

  • Evaluate airflow blockages caused by framing or historic details

  • Identify hidden weaknesses that create recurring ice dams

This is not a “quick look.”
It’s a science backed deep-dive analysis into the mechanisms creating ice dams in your specific home

Who We Serve

We serve homeowners across Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding suburbs — from historic neighborhoods with complex attic systems to 1980s–1990s suburban builds with vaulted ceilings and challenging rooflines. Ice dams affect both types of homes for different reasons, and we understand the building science behind each. Whether you live in Kenwood, Plymouth, Highland Park, or Maple Grove, or in a vaulted-ceiling home in Eden Prairie or Woodbury, we diagnose the root cause using a science-based approach — not guesswork.

Ice dams form because of:

  • Attic heat loss

  • Poor or inconsistent ventilation

  • Warm air bypassing into the roof deck

  • Moisture trapped in insulation

  • Rooflines that trap snow

  • Complex architecture that creates warm and cold zones

  • Settled or missing insulation

  • Leaky recessed lighting or attic access doors

Steam-Only Ice Dam Removal (When Needed)

A lot of companies out there are using heated pressure washers, these machines can force water into the home and damage the roof.

If ice is an active risk to cause damage, we perform safe steam-only removal, the gentlest and most effective method for roofs and historic materials. Steam reduces the risk of damaging parts of your home such as:

  • Shingles

  • Gutters

  • Flashing

  • Soffits, Trim and fascia

But ice removal is only part of the solution.
The real value is understanding what caused the ice dam in the first place.

Home Science: How We Diagnose Ice Dams

Our diagnostic consultations use principles of building science to understand:

  • Heat transfer

  • Moisture movement

  • Airflow patterns

  • Thermal bridging

  • Attic pressure imbalances

  • Ventilation pathways

  • Roof temperature behavior

Using these methods, we identify whether your ice dams are caused by:

  • Insulation gaps

  • Air leaks around chimneys, lights, or attic hatches

  • Blocked soffit vents

  • Failing or outdated ventilation systems

  • Structural voids

  • Weather patterns interacting with your specific roof design

No two homes behave the same — and that’s why most companies can’t fix ice dams long-term.

Ready to schedule your own Ice Dam Consultation today? Click here.