Snow, ice can impact old, rotting roofs

By Kristyne E. Demske
C & G Staff Writer

Local roofers say fall is a good time to look up.

With winter on the horizon, it’s best to check now for potential problems so that ice and snow don’t snowball into leaks and cause the roof to collapse.

“It’s a very good time to be checking out your roof,” said Deborah Garrett, manager of J&J Roofing in Roseville. “Ice damming is definitely a problem here in Michigan and can create some pretty expensive interior damage.”

Fred Grennan, owner of Grennan Construction in Waterford, agreed.

“It’s not a problem to have snow on your roof, but if you start to have ice dams or ice build-up on the gutter or lower edge near the eaves, it could lead to interior damage,” he said.

The issue is caused by improper ventilation and deteriorating shingles. Garrett said roofing systems are designed to prevent water from running back under the shingles, but when ice builds up in the gutters, the precipitation can force its way up.

“If your attic’s not properly ventilated, when it (snow) hits the heat in the attic, it starts thawing,” she said. After that, the melted snow runs down to the gutters and re-freezes. A build-up of this ice leads to damming that pushes up shingles.

A do-it-yourself fix, she said, is to install heat tape in gutters so that when the melted snow hits them it stays liquid and simply runs off the roof without re-freezing.

Grennan said his company will also come out in the winter and remove snow and ice from the roof before damming can occur.

How to tell if a roof is in disrepair? Garrett said losing granules off the shingles is one indication, as is curling or cupping shingles.  A first-layer roof can generally last about 20 years, she said.

“When the shingles begin to curl at the edges … that’s usually a sign that the roofing system is failing,” she said.

Joseph Cron, owner of JAC Roofing in St. Clair Shores, said the most susceptible spots on a roof — and the places that deserve a close check — are the valleys and where the metal flashing of the roof meets the chimney.

“If you have a vulnerable spot, that’ll be the first spot you have a leak,” he said.

If there’s any doubt, though, homeowners should check with a reputable company for a roof inspection, said Grennan. Many companies do inspections for free.

“Really, have an inspection, have a professional come out and take a look because that’s the best way to be proactive if you don’t want to have any problems,” he said.

For do-it-yourselfers, he said, winter preparation should include cleaning the gutters and making sure there’s no debris on the roof.

Cron said that’s when homeowners should look for roof granules.

“You’ll see some granules inside the gutter on the bottom and that’s an indication that the shingles have gone the distance, as well,” he said.

Roofing professionals also said just tacking on another layer of new shingles to a roof is not necessarily the best way to fix problems.

“It’s always best to tear it off, so you can get the proper underlayment, see the wood — that way if there’s any damage there, it can be tended to,” Grennan said.

And even though one might not think of replacing a roof in the colder weather, Garrett said they work year-round.

“Our installers are factory-certified, which means that the shingles are properly installed. Even though they might not get the warmer temperatures to immediately seal as they would during the warmer weather, they’re nailed properly,” she said, explaining that shingles have an adhesive strip that generally needs a day or two of 60-degree weather to seal properly. “If they’re nailed properly, they’re not going to come up.”

High gas prices have forced the cost of a new roof up because all the materials are made of petroleum. But Garrett said it’s important not to cut corners.

“Be very careful when you’re choosing a contractor that you choose someone who is willing to pull a permit, (and is) licensed and insured,” she said. “You might get a cheaper job, but I can’t tell you how many phone calls I get fixing ‘Joe in his pickup truck’s’ work. It ends up costing you more in the long run.”

J&J Roofing is located at 29522 Little Mack Road in Roseville. For more information, call (586) 445-6455 or visit www.jjroofing.com. Grennan Construction is located at 2582 Edgevale Drive in Waterford. For more information, call (866) 868-7663. JAC Roofing is located at 22301 Madison in St. Clair Shores. For more information, call 586) 243-1684.

You can reach Staff Writer Kristyne E. Demske at kdemske@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1041.