How to Make Your Own Roof Dam Socks

When ice forms along the edge of a roof, it can prevent melting snow and ice from draining away properly. The ice ridge creates a dam effect, causing water to back up. The sitting water often leaks through the roof, creating damage inside. An ice dam sock for the roof is a porous tube filled with ice melt. The ice dam sock rests vertically on the roof over the ice ridge, and eventually melts down enough of the ice to allow the water to pass on to the gutter. Making a roof dam sock that includes a long rope allow you to toss it up onto the roof and position it for maximum effect.

Things You'll Need

• Old pantyhose
• Ice melt pellets
• Wire twist tie
• 15-foot rope

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Cut the legs off a pair of pantyhose and discard the waist piece.

   • 2

     Pour ice melt into the opening of one of the stockings. Fill the leg about two-thirds full.

   • 3

     Tie off the top of the filled stocking securely, leaving a few inches of nylon above the tie.

   • 4

     Tie one end of the rope to the tied end of the ice dam sock.

   • 5

     Repeat the steps with the other leg of the pantyhose. Use these two ice dam socks to keep ice on the roof from building up.