PROBLEMS WITH ICE DAMMING?

It may not be your roof that is the problem.
Find out why.

MORE QUESTIONS?

Call us, send us a question or request a quote online.

Do Stains on Your Ceiling or Drips From a Bathroom Vent Mean Your Roof Is Leaking? (Maybe not)

During the winter in Canada (January/February), and especially around mountainous areas like Calgary, Alberta, temperatures can change radically in a short period of time. When warm weather follows quickly after a severe cold snap, homeowners will often call us to report that their roof has suddenly started leaking, or their bathroom vent is leaking, or that water has been collecting in their light fixtures. If you have encountered similar issues or have noticed brown stains forming on your ceiling it may not be your roof that is the problem.

- Look for something like a trapdoor in the ceiling of the uppermost storey of your home

- Get a ladder and a flashlight and set up the ladder so that you can safely reach the trap door (be sure to take your flashlight with you)

- Climb the ladder and carefully lift and move the trapdoor (usually a light plywood panel)

- Poke your head up into your attic and using your flashlight examine the underside of the roof (a.k.a the roof deck) as well as the vapour barrier (usually clear plastic) under the insulation in your attic.

- Check for frost or icicles on the underside of the roof or signs of melting, including puddles of water on the vapour barrier under the insulation in your attic. If you see any of those signs then the problem may not be your roof but improper attic ventilation or attic insulation.

2) CONDENSATION IN YOUR VENT PIPES - If the leaking is by, or from, your bathroom (or kitchen) fan it may be that condensation has formed inside the vent pipe for your exhaust fan and frosted up. When it warms up, the frost that has formed inside your vent pipe will melt and pour down into your bathroom (or kitchen, as the case may be).

OPTIONS for reducing dripping around or from your vent pipes:

- Make sure the vapour barrier is properly sealed around the vents in your attic. You may also need to add some insulation in the attic around the areas where the vents come through the ceiling.

- Call us to discuss how you might be able to reconfigure your vent pipes to minimize direct contact between the cold air (or occasionally snow) blowing in from outside and the warm air being blown out by your exhaust fan

Once you have reviewed the situation, give us a call at 403-366-3770. We'll do our best to help you find a solution to the leaking problems you are experiencing. Your observations can help us save you time and money and will help you feel more confident and informed when discussing the situation with us.

To learn more about the importance of attic ventilation and how to minimize condensation issues in your attic in the winter please read The Importance of Soffit.

TO DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THIS ARTICLE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW.

HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR ROOF

One of the best ways to preserve the value of your home for a minimal cost is to maintain the roof and exterior of your dwelling. Below are some home maintenance tips to help you care for your home and prevent damage to your roof and attic. Calgary and area residents with pine shake roofs on their homes should also pay careful attention to the condition of their pine shingles. For your information we have put together a set of links on pine shake roof conversions.

• What to look for

As a roof ages, shingles are more likely to become affected by wind, hail, ice damming, and the hot summer sun. Keep an eye on the accumulation of shingle granules in the gutters and down spouts. Cedar shakes will begin to crack and disintegrate due to hail and our dry Alberta conditions. Missing shingles, exposed wood deck, and unsecured shingles are obvious entry points for the damaging elements.

CURLING / BUCKLING

Curling of shingles makes them highly susceptible to wind and ice damage. This is a problem on older roofs where moisture builds up in the underside of the attic, causing slow leaks and staining on ceilings or walls. Buckling or waviness can be caused by improper shingle installation, but most often results from poor attic insulation and ventilation. Air circulation in your attic is a must!

FLASHING

Most entry points for the elements occur at the flashings around vents, chimneys, wall joints, and valleys. Is the flashing cracked? Is the caulking dried out or even non-existent? Is there a good bond between the shingles and the flashing or is the seal gone? If you are not confident with the integrity of your roof an inspection may prevent potential problems.

WHEN WE COME TO YOUR HOME

Below are some of our general policies and things to consider before we arrive at your site to begin a job. Reading over them will help you set realistic expectations for your exteriors project. These policies were last updated January 28, 2009.

AUDITS

It is our policy to complete a full audit on the work done to your home before issuing an invoice. We want to make sure we are satisfied with the work completed before requesting payment. This audit is completed by one of our qualified project managers.

ROOF-ROT

It is usually hard to determine the extent of wood damage caused by leaking until either the shingles or exteriors have been removed. We will repair and replace all rotten wood at a reasonable rate. This expense is often not required, but in cases where it is, the cost is usually minimal. If the extra cost will exceed $200.00 we will contact you first for permission before proceeding.

STUCCO

Over the years we have encountered recurring problems with houses that have a stucco exterior. Stucco that has been properly installed should end between 1-2” above the roofline. Sometimes, however, the stucco runs right down onto the roof top making it extremely difficult to remove the old shingles or shakes without disturbing the stucco. In other cases, the stucco may be weathered and worn and therefore crumbles when we are working near it. We instruct our employees to take extreme care when removing the old shingles, but there are times when it is not possible to remove them without slight damage to the stucco. Rather than budgeting for this at the commencement of the project, please take note that in cases where stucco is damaged there will be additional costs incurred.

Mistakes do happen. Be assured that we will take full responsibility for any damages that may occur to your home that are clearly our responsibility. Please feel free to call us with any and all concerns, and we will work with you to arrive at a solution.

SKYLIGHTS

Please note that any protrusions on your roof, especially skylight, are areas where leakage may occur. Our preference when re-roofing a house is to always reflash the skylight so that all flashings are new. There are cases when it is obvious that we can work with the existing skylight flashing without concern for future damage, but in the case that we recommend you to replace either the flashing kit or the complete skylight and you choose to waive that part of the project, we will not be responsible for any ensuing problems. We are available to come back and solve the problem for a basic charge, but please note that our warranty only extends to those components of the project that we actually replace.

SATELLITE DISHES

We do our best to replace satellite dishes or TV antennas as we found them. We cannot, however, guarantee that your signal will be the same as before, and you may be required to call a technician to come and restore your signal. It is important to note that all fees and related costs connected to that are your responsibility as a homeowner.

Our method of debris removal is to either place a container or a trailer on your front driveway. In cases where the homeowner does not have a driveway we place plywood on your lawn to protect it from damage. We have found this method works very well and does not leave marks on your lawn. This approach helps us to provide top quality service in a timely fashion. We make every effort to protect your property from damage and clutter.

ADVERTISING

We request permission to place a sign on your front yard to advertise our service to others. Our signs are comparable to realtors' signs and we’re confident they will not be intrusive. Our signs not only make us publicly accountable, but also indicate our scheduled arrival and completion of the project. Please inform us if you are not comfortable with this. One of our sales consultants will call to confirm your permission before we go ahead and put up any advertising.

UPGRADES

Our sales consultants  will inform you of the replacement cost of your project as well as give you options for improvements. We would suggest you consider some of the following important upgrades or improvements to your property:

- Ice and water shield on the eaves and valleys of your roof to eliminate seepage and damage caused by ice-damning

- Drip edge along all eaves to protect the bottom edge of your roof deck

- Proper venting – 1 vent per 250 sq. feet of house (Please note that the average home has not been properly vented and air convection is often inadequate.)

- High Definition Ridge 10" (greatly increases 'curb appeal' of your home)

Other options can be discussed with our sales consultant.

FOLLOW-UP INTERVIEW

We value your input and evaluation so please be prepared for a follow-up call from one of our sale consultants as we complete your project.

INSURANCE CLAIMS

There are some unique dynamics that accompany insurance claim related projects. For the most part, insurance companies are committed to replacing all items on your roof that are visibly damaged either due to hail or wind or fire. What this means is that they may not give you allowance for things like vents or existing flashings that are not visibly damaged. In addition, roof-rot is not covered (see Roof-Rot section above). Also, upgrades are not covered; the only time an insurance company may cover the cost of an upgrade is if pre-existing product is no longer available.

COR-CERTIFICATION

As a company we are well into the process of gaining COR certification. COR is recognized by Occupational Health and Safety as well as the Worker’s Compensation Board as a method of operation and safety that insures that all of our employees working at your residence have received the proper training and certification required. This is important for you as the homeowner for it eliminates your liability for any accidents that may happen during the course of work. Please note that few construction companies are COR certified, so we believe this gives us an edge over a number of our competitors in terms of safety and quality.