Case Study: Cherry Hills Ice Dam Luxury Custom Restoration
Large ice dam event at a Cherry Hills luxury custom home at 5,100+ feet elevation during severe winter conditions. Response involved emergency high-value contents pack-out, structural drying of custom finish spaces, coordination with roofing partner for ice removal and comprehensive root cause correction (attic insulation upgrade from R-30 to R-60, air sealing, ice and water shield extension, heated cable system installation), custom cabinetry salvage through millwork specialist, natural stone restoration coordination, and coordination with Chubb Private Client throughout. 28-day full occupancy restoration.
Project Snapshot
- Location: Cherry Hills neighborhood, Cottonwood Heights (client name redacted per privacy agreement)
- Property type: Luxury custom construction, ~6,400 sq ft, built 2004 with complex multi-level roof geometry at 5,100+ feet elevation
- Loss event: Large ice dam formation during 6-day severe winter conditions producing water intrusion across multiple ceiling areas
- Water category: IICRC S500 Category 2 (roof-source water containing accumulated roofing debris and residue)
- Affected areas: Kitchen ceiling and cabinetry, dining room ceiling, master suite ceiling and hardwood flooring, cascading damage to lower-level entertainment area
- Response time: 38 minutes from initial call to on-site response
- Project timeline: 28 days from response to full occupancy restoration
- Insurance coordination: Chubb Private Client Group high-value residential policy
The Event
Six-day severe winter event with heavy snowfall (approximately 42 inches accumulated during the storm cycle) followed by warming daytime temperatures with continued overnight sub-freezing conditions produced sustained ice dam formation on the Cherry Hills luxury custom home’s complex multi-level roof. The property’s elevated position at 5,100+ feet contributed to heavier snow load and colder eave conditions that preserved ice dam formation longer than lower-elevation properties experienced. Meltwater accumulated behind ice dams at multiple locations across the complex roof geometry and infiltrated the roof envelope through multiple entry points. Water damage manifested across kitchen ceiling and cabinetry, dining room ceiling, master suite ceiling and hardwood flooring, with cascading damage to lower-level entertainment area beneath master suite.
Response Protocol
Initial Response (First 4 Hours)
Response crew arrived on-site 38 minutes after initial call. Winter conditions extended response time slightly given eastern Cottonwood Heights access. Initial actions included:
- Water source assessment (attic ice dam meltwater continuing to flow) and emergency temporary source containment
- Electrical safety assessment across affected areas including confirmation of electrical isolation for affected circuits
- Emergency contents pack-out for high-value kitchen, dining, master suite, and lower-level entertainment area contents
- Initial extraction using portable extraction equipment appropriate for hardwood flooring and natural stone preservation
- Moisture mapping using Delmhorst BD-2100 pin meters and FLIR C5 thermal imaging across all affected areas
- Categorization confirmation (IICRC S500 Category 2 based on roof-source water)
- Chubb Private Client Group emergency claim notification and expedited claim initiation
Emergency Ice Removal (Days 1–2)
Coordinated with roofing partner for emergency ice dam removal:
- Steam-based ice dam removal at multiple roof locations to prevent additional water intrusion
- Heated cable temporary installation at highest-risk locations to prevent immediate reformation during ongoing winter conditions
- Attic space assessment for structural condition and attic insulation contamination extent
- Roof envelope assessment for damage from ice infiltration
Structural Drying (Days 2–16)
Extended structural drying protocol appropriate for luxury custom construction:
- Deployment of 10 Dri-Eaz DrizAir 1200 desiccant dehumidifiers plus 5 Phoenix DryMAX XL LGR dehumidifiers
- Deployment of 34 air movers at varied velocity across custom finish areas and standard finish areas
- Contaminated attic insulation removal and disposal across affected attic sections
- Daily moisture monitoring with documented moisture readings for Chubb Private Client and specialty reconstruction planning
- Selective ceiling opening at limited locations to access wet ceiling assemblies without damaging adjacent custom finish areas
- Contents pack-out to Vivid climate-controlled storage with high-value item routing to certified specialty restoration partners
Specialty Content and Finish Handling
Cherry Hills luxury custom features required specialty coordination:
- Custom kitchen cabinetry salvage assessment and specialty restoration through millwork specialist — upper cabinets with direct water exposure required specialty refinishing while structurally sound; lower cabinets survived intact
- Natural stone restoration coordination for marble countertops and travertine flooring — specialty stone restoration partner performed re-sealing and minor repair work
- Original hardwood flooring restoration in master suite through specialty refinishing partner including board-by-board matching for the limited areas requiring board replacement
- High-value contents restoration coordination for master suite art and dining room furniture through certified restoration partners
- Lower-level entertainment area electronics restoration through certified electronics restoration partner
Comprehensive Root Cause Correction (Days 12–24)
Post-restoration prevention work coordinated with roofing and insulation partners:
- Attic insulation upgrade from original R-30 to current standard R-60 across the entire attic footprint
- Air sealing at all attic penetrations including plumbing chase, electrical penetrations, HVAC duct penetrations, and can light penetrations
- Improved attic ventilation with soffit intake and ridge exhaust upgrades appropriate for the complex roof geometry
- Ice and water shield extension on all ice dam-prone rooflines (approximately 60% of total roofline)
- Heated cable system installation on chronic problem rooflines (concave sections at three separate locations on the complex multi-level roof)
Custom Finish Reconstruction (Days 12–28)
Reconstruction scope emphasized specialty craftsmanship:
- Kitchen ceiling reconstruction with attention to lighting integration and mechanical routing consistent with original design
- Dining room ceiling restoration matching original custom paint finish through decorative painting specialty
- Master suite ceiling and wall restoration with attention to original custom architectural details
- Hardwood flooring restoration and finish matching for continuity with unaffected areas
- Lower-level entertainment area reconstruction with specialty audio-visual integration
Coordination and Insurance
Project coordination with Chubb Private Client Group high-value residential policy provided coverage for full luxury custom restoration approach including specialty craftsmanship, high-value contents restoration, and comprehensive root cause correction. Chubb Private Client coordination throughout project provided expedited claim processing, specialty content restoration coordination through carrier-approved specialty restoration partners, and coverage for temporary alternative accommodation during the intensive reconstruction phase.
Outcome
Full occupancy restoration completed in 28 days with all custom finishes successfully restored to original quality. Property owners reported the restored areas were indistinguishable from unaffected areas. Comprehensive root cause correction dramatically reduced ice dam risk for future severe winter events — property has experienced two subsequent severe winter events without ice dam formation at the previously chronic problem locations.
Project Cost
Total project scope was in the high six-figure range, with specialty finish reconstruction (custom cabinetry, natural stone, hardwood) representing approximately 35% of total cost, contents restoration coordination representing approximately 20%, structural drying and demolition representing approximately 15%, and comprehensive root cause correction (attic insulation upgrade, air sealing, ventilation improvements, ice and water shield, heated cable system) representing approximately 30%. Costs were fully covered through Chubb Private Client policy at replacement cost with client out-of-pocket limited to policy deductible.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How quickly did Vivid respond to this Cherry Hills ice dam emergency?
- Response crew arrived on-site 38 minutes after initial call. Cherry Hills is within our 35–50 minute response range from our Fort Union office during standard conditions. Winter conditions and severe weather extended response slightly for this project given eastern Cottonwood Heights access. Emergency line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Why does Cherry Hills face such elevated ice dam risk?
- Cherry Hills’ elevation at 5,100+ feet places it among Cottonwood Heights’ highest luxury foothills neighborhoods with correspondingly elevated ice dam risk. Heavier snowfall than valley neighborhoods with elevation-driven precipitation patterns, colder eave temperatures preserving snowpack, and complex luxury custom construction roof geometries producing multiple ice dam formation locations all contribute. Ice dam risk in Cherry Hills is substantially higher than valley subdivision neighborhoods and requires prevention approaches (attic insulation, air sealing, ice and water shield, heated cable systems) sized for elevated risk.
- What specialty coordination is required for Cherry Hills custom construction?
- Cherry Hills luxury custom construction typically features custom cabinetry, natural stone finishes (marble, granite, travertine), original hardwood flooring, coffered ceilings, custom trim and molding, custom paint techniques (venetian plaster, hand-glazed finishes), and specialty architectural details. Restoration requires specialty craftsmanship coordination through millwork specialists, stone restoration specialists, hardwood flooring specialists, decorative painting specialists, and other specialty partners. Higher-tier insurance coverage (Chubb Private Client, AIG Private Client, PURE Insurance) supports specialty restoration approach for high-value coverage.
- How does the attic insulation upgrade prevent future ice dam events?
- Ice dam formation occurs when warm indoor air escapes into the attic space and melts snow on the roof from underneath. Inadequate attic insulation combined with air leaks at attic penetrations produces the heat transfer that drives ice dam formation. Upgrading attic insulation from R-30 to R-60 combined with air sealing at all attic penetrations dramatically reduces heat transfer to the roof deck, keeping the roof cold and eliminating the snowmelt that produces ice dams. Combined with balanced ventilation and ice and water shield installation, comprehensive attic improvement dramatically reduces ice dam risk while also improving heating efficiency.
- How can Cherry Hills homeowners prevent large ice dam events?
- Comprehensive attic improvement is the highest-value prevention investment: adequate attic insulation (R-49 to R-60 for the Salt Lake climate zone at Cherry Hills elevation), air sealing at all attic penetrations, balanced attic ventilation, ice and water shield extending up from the eave on ice dam-prone rooflines, and heated cable systems on chronic problem rooflines. Comprehensive attic improvement runs $10,000–$30,000+ on luxury custom Cherry Hills properties but dramatically reduces both ice dam risk and heating costs. Given the elevated ice dam risk in Cherry Hills, prevention investment typically pays for itself in the first prevented event.
Contact Vivid Water Damage & Restoration
- Emergency Line (24/7): (385) 289-3885
- Address: 7084 S 2300 E #170, Salt Lake City, UT 84121
- License: Utah DOPL general contractor license #10894576-5501
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