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What is ice and water shield?

Ice and water shield is a self-adhering, self-sealing waterproof membrane beneath roof coverings. It seals around roofing nails; PNNL’s cold-climate guidance extends it at least 2 feet inside the exterior wall’s interior plane. Ask for a coverage drawing rather than assuming one strip reaches far enough.

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By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Updated

What this means for your home project

  1. Review the coverage drawing: look for membrane reaching at least two feet inward from the interior wall plane at the eaves. Source: Building America Solution Center (PNNL / U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-11-04.
  2. Request a written deck-preparation scope that describes cleaning the application area before the membrane goes down. Source: Building America Solution Center (PNNL / U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-11-04.
  3. Ask the written proposal to identify whether the membrane manufacturer calls for primer under the proposed conditions. Source: Building America Solution Center (PNNL / U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-11-04.
  4. Review installation photos with the roofer and ask for folds or creases to be addressed before the membrane is covered. Source: Building America Solution Center (PNNL / U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-11-04.
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How far up the roof should ice and water shield go?

For cold-climate eaves, have the roofer show the inside wall position and slope on the coverage drawing, using PNNL’s 2015 IRC guidance as a reference. “Install the membrane from the eaves to at least two feet in from the interior plane of the wall.” Source: Building America Solution Center (PNNL / U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-11-04. “On roofs with a slope that is equal to or greater than 8 units vertical in 12 units horizontal, install 3 or more feet of ice and water shield from the eave edge up along the slope edge (IRC 2015).” Source: Building America Solution Center (PNNL / U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-11-04.

Does ice and water shield go over or under the drip edge?

At the bottom roof edge, ask the installer to show how runoff reaches the metal edge in the assembly described by PNNL. “The lower edge of the membrane should cover the top edge of the metal drip edge.” Source: Building America Solution Center (PNNL / U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-11-04.

Do you need both an ice-and-water shield membrane and underlayment, tar paper or felt?

PNNL’s eave assembly includes both layers, so ask the roofer to identify their order in the proposed roof section. “Install the underlayment directly over the membrane.” Source: Building America Solution Center (PNNL / U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-11-04.

Should you ice and water shield a whole entire roof?

Full-deck coverage is an option for severe snow conditions; have the roofer explain the roof-specific reason for proposing it. “Some builders choose to cover the entire roof deck with self-adhering self-sealing membrane especially in high-snow or high-wind areas.” Source: Building America Solution Center (PNNL / U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-11-04. “In high snow regions, particularly with roofs that have complex framing involving hips, valleys, dormers, or chimney penetrations, good practice is to use self-adhering roofing membranes around all ice dam and water leakage prone areas.” Source: Building America Solution Center (PNNL / U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-11-04.

Does ice and water shield prevent ice dams?

Use membrane for added leak protection and ask about attic insulation, because PNNL addresses snowmelt by limiting heat reaching the roof. “As an added layer of protection against roof leaks should ice dams occur, building codes often require that self-adhered membrane be installed on the roof deck along the eaves, as described in the guide "Roof Eaves Sealed with Self-Adhering Membrane in Cold Climates."” Source: Building America Solution Center (PNNL / U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-11-04. “Adequate attic insulation also needs to be installed to prevent heat from transferring to the roof decking.” Source: Building America Solution Center (PNNL / U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-11-04.

What are the cost and installation considerations?

Ask the written scope to identify deck preparation and any product-specific priming work so you can compare the installation tasks. “To ensure that the area above the eave is well sealed, the area must be cleaned prior to installation of the self-adhering bituminous membrane.” Source: Building America Solution Center (PNNL / U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-11-04. “Note that, depending on conditions, a primer may be suggested or required by the membrane manufacturer to promote good, long-term adhesion.” Source: Building America Solution Center (PNNL / U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-11-04.

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