Minnetonka Ice Dam

The challenge

Ice dams built up along this Minnetonka home's roofline and forced snowmelt back under the shingles. Water ran down through the ceilings and walls across the main level, leaving stained drywall and damaged trim behind — throughout dated, wood-paneled rooms.

Our approach

We repaired the roof and the ice-dam damage, then rebuilt the water-damaged ceilings and walls. With the main level already opened up, the restoration became a whole-house remodel — one team carrying structural repairs, drywall, and finish carpentry straight through to the end.

The results

The main level came back transformed. The wood-paneled den became a bright living room, with painted built-ins framing the original brick fireplace. The dining room gained grasscloth walls beneath its vaulted ceiling, and a coastal-inspired kitchen and spa-like bath finished the remodel.

Cause of loss: ice dams that forced snowmelt under the roofline and down into the ceilings and walls. Style direction: sophisticated, classic, modern.

Ice dams are a Minnesota winter problem: snow melts against a warm roof, refreezes at the cold eaves, and the backed-up water works its way inside. Here it came down through the main level, and once the damaged ceilings and walls were opened up, the repair became the moment to remodel the whole house.

The wood-paneled den was reimagined as a bright, airy living room, its original brick fireplace kept and framed by freshly painted built-ins. The dining room traded dated tile and bare walls for grasscloth and glass-front cabinets under its vaulted ceiling, and the work carried through to a coastal-inspired kitchen and a spa-like primary bath. It is the pattern behind most storm damage repair in Minnetonka: the same team that dries out the damage can rebuild the rooms better than they were.

Before & After

Dated wood-paneled den with a brick fireplace, built-in shelving, and French doors out to a snowy deck before ice dam restoration — Living room

The same room remodeled with blue-painted walls and built-ins framing the original brick fireplace, with the French doors restored on the right — Living room

Empty dining room with a vaulted ceiling, a wall of French doors, and dated tile flooring before the remodel — Dining room

The same dining room with grasscloth walls, glass-front cabinets, a set table, and a chandelier beneath the vaulted ceiling after restoration — Dining room

Minnetonka Ice Dam

The challenge

Our approach

The results

Before & After

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