Help with a 'second roof' to curb ice on the eaves

Q. Some months ago the Monitor had a story on a second, or auxiliary, roof which was designed to prevent winter leaks from ice buildup at the eaves. Can you provide more information, such as specifications, diagrams, ets., for such a roof overlay? Burton W. Blackwall Littleton, Mass.

A. a couple of years ago a Denver reader wrote about how he had eliminated an ice problem, and thus leaks, in the eaves of his house by putting another roof above the old one. He said he left 2 inches of air space between the old and new roofs.

It solved the icing/leaking problem, he added, and in the end was more satisfactory and less expensive than running electric heating tapes along the eaves all winter.

His cabin had a simple gable roof, one side sloping south, the other sloping north.

The Denver man admitted that a more complicated roof configuration would pose more construction problems than he encountered; and indeed, this is true.

It is quite unlikely that you could find existing details and specifications that will fit your particular roof in all details.Is your roof gabled, hipped, flat, mansard, or a combination thereof? Each has its own peculiar complexities and requires specific design input.

If it were my problem, I'd call on a local builder, designer, architect, or engineer to design an auxiliary roof system and its finish.

Work out construction details first on paper. Then determine the cost in labor and materials and, if affordable, follow with the actual construction.