Ice storm repairs create backlog of roofing work

Roofers say that even though they have finished the majority of storm-related repairs, they are, as a result, behind in their normal maintenance and repair work.

“Everyone that’s been around Springfield for any length of time is really backed up because of the storm,” said Doyle Forgey, owner of Precision Roofing & Siding. “It caused a lot of damage to a lot of roofs, and it’s pretty hard to play catch-up once you get that far behind.”

Dale Rector, co-owner of Dale’s Roofing, has a similar story. He recently finished the last of his ice-storm repairs, which hasn’t left much time for normal maintenance.

“Those (ice-storm) repairs are starting to get cleared up, but we’re still doing a lot of basic maintenance repairs – we never really slowed down on those,” Rector said.

Forgey said that the ice storm may have done more damage than people realize; he estimates that “nine out of 10” roofs he examines sustained some sort of storm damage.

Trickle-down effect

The additional work for roofers has created a backlog for home builders and remodelers, who have had a hard time finding roofers to keep up with their projects.

“It has been difficult to find somebody that can do work in a timely manner, whether it’s an addition project or a remodel,” said Shannon Lee, co-owner of Rock Solid Construction and chairman of the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield’s Remodelor’s Council. “We have had to wait, in some cases, an inordinate amount of time to get these projects under roof so we can work on the rest of the project.”

Checking for damage

The key for individual homeowners, Rector added, is being proactive.

“It’s generally a good idea to have (the roof) checked,” he said. “You don’t need to necessarily have a brand-new roof checked every year, but it doesn’t hurt anything to check and see if it needs any work. People don’t always keep a tight grasp on their roof because they don’t always notice it.”

While the untrained eye may have some difficulty figuring out whether a roof sustained enough damage to warrant a call to the roofer, Forgey said it comes down to homeowners following their instincts.

“When you do a walk around your house, if you see something that doesn’t look right, that’s a sign,” Forgey said. “If you walk around your house and see something sticking up or something you don’t think belongs there, give one of us a call and we’ll be happy to come out and do a walkover on it. I don’t know of any roofing contractors that are charging to go out and examine roofs for damages.”

Chuck Chalender, a Springfield agent for American Family Insurance, said taking advantage of a free estimate is a good idea for most homeowners.

“Many people don’t want to show claim activity on their property if they’re not sure if there is damage,” Chalender said. “I tell a lot of people to call a reputable roofer and get his opinion before putting a claim in. That is a very safe way to determine if you have any storm damage, and most roofers in town aren’t going to tell you that you have damage if you don’t.”

Getting an estimate also can help homeowners decide if they should file a claim if they do need repairs, Chalender said. If a policy has a $500 deductible and repairs will cost $300, filing a claim may not make much sense.

Chalender added that homeowners shouldn’t dawdle if they plan to file a claim; most insurance companies have a time limit from the time damage occurs to the time a policyholder can successfully file a claim.

Rector said there are visual clues, such as curling shingles, that signal when repairs are in order, but he added that homeowners shouldn’t overlook the evident.

“Obviously, if you’re in the attic and you see daylight, you’ve gone too far on maintenance issues,” he said.

Recognizing Roof Damage

For homeowners who may not be familiar with the ins and outs of roofing, here are some visual clues that repairs may be in order.

From inside the house, check for the following:

• Leakage

• Any signs of daylight in the attic, even as small as a pinhole

• Moisture stains on interior ceilings and walls

• Higher than normal energy costs

• Blistering or peeling paint, a sign of poor ventilation

From outside, check for the following:

• Missing shingles, warped or gapping tiles or shakes

• A sagging roofline, indicating a longtime leak or structural problems

• Peeling, curling or clawing tiles

• Dark or dirty-looking areas, a sign of fungus or mold growth

• Cracked flashing – the area where two roof surfaces meet – or dried-out caulking

Source: www.hgtv.com[[In-content Ad]]