'Ice dam' claims soaring in Saskatchewan

It's shaping up to be a bad spring for roof damage in Saskatchewanthe so-called ice dam problem.

Record snowfalls are piling up on rooftops and ice dams big frozen chunks in eavestroughsthat can back up melting water on a roof, causing it to drip into interior wallsare already causing a lot of problems for Saskatchewan residents.

SGI said more than 700 claims have come in from across the province since January 2013 almost seven times the rate inthe snowy year 2011.

In 2010, there were only 22 ice dam insurance claims filed with Saskatchewan Government Insurance.

All the figures quotedrelate to about the first three months of each year.

Gordon Giles with SGI said he expects more claims to pour in during the spring melt.

"The heavier-than-usual snow load that we've happened to come across this year, plus the freeze and thaw cycles that we've experienced, have all exacerbated the situation," Giles said.

The amount of damage to a roof depends on how well your attic is insulated and ventilated.

"If there is not proper insulation in the attic or the roof is not properly ventilated, what will happen is heat gets trapped in the attic and then sort of absorbs through the shingles onto the roof and will form ice on the roof," Giles said.

SGI recommends people check their insurance policy because not every policy covers ice damming.