Ice On Roof Nails In Attic

It s important to realize frost is in your attic for a few reasons.

Ice on roof nails in attic.

Just bought this house a few months ago. Frost on nails is frozen condensation. Frost on nails in attic spaces may frighten you. Frost later melts off of these nails and drips onto the floor below.

This prevents the gradual buildup of heated water laden air in the attic to the point that the attic space is warmed enough to hold watervapor and present it to the ice cold nail shanks. Winter condensation on the nails even forming frost in freezing weather rusts the nails and stains the roof sheathing around them. On best roofing practices. When you see water and ice on the nails the actual temperature of the nails is at or below the dew point of the air in the attic that is saturated with water vapor.

The melt water runs down the length of the roof to the eaves where it refreezes forming a dam and icicles. You see this same thing happen in summer months when you place a glass of cold water or a can of cold soda or beer on an outdoor table. The pattern may occur more on the cooler or north slope of the roof. Ice dams form when heat leaking into attics or roof cavities from the building below or from attic ductwork melts the bottom layer of snow on the roof.

Attic venting consists of heavier colder air forcing its way into soffet vents and pushing warmer air out of ridge vents or deck vents placed near the ridge. The nails in my attic have frost and ice on them.