HELP!! I had a new roof installed early Sept. The roof that was on it was fairly new, place on in 2005. So why we replaced it was this, a tree fell on our home and had extensive hail damage.

So now, It's late January in Oklahoma and an ice storm comes thru. Nothing new. But something new has occured....apparently had an ice dam on the roof?? So now that this occured we had severe leaking and extensive damage to our ceilings and walls. Yes ice dams occur. Not covered under warranty. I get it, it's a natural occurance, i get it, like hail or a tree falling in a storm.

But here's my problem. We've owned this house since 2005. It had a new roof on it then, we've had several ice storms since then, no leaking in the house. We even had an even worse ice storm in 2007 with no leaking. So i'm not understanding why this time, with this ice storm, why it leaked so severly. The only thing that changed in the house was the tree damage, that supposedly was repaired and a new roof. And it just so happens that the leak was in the same area as where the tree hit and where the roofers were supposed to repair that damage.

Yes i know why it occurs, i've researched it. Insullation, ventilation, etc.

So if nothing has changed between the past ice storms and this ice storm except a new roof, is that kind of suspicious? Should the roofers be held liable?

 

To hold the roofers liable, you have to show where they made a mistake. You can't just say, it's your fault without a reason why.

Take a closer look from the attic & from the top, to see what you can find or have another contractor look at it.

 

Pulpo is correct, you are going to have to do some investigating to come up with a plausible explanation for the contractor's failure. I'll give you some thoughts, from someone in north country who has had many ice dams.

First location. The ice dam will form where ever the snow stops. That is where the melted water becomes exposed to the cold air. As the ice gets thicker, the water behind it eventually finds a way under the shingles and under the underlayment or ice shield that should be there. That means, if the snow was right down to the lower edge of the roof, the leak should have been near the outside wall. An inspection in the attic, ASAP, with an infrared camera could tell you where the wet area is. If it is mid way up the roof, or higher, doubtful that it was an ice dam that caused it.

Also, if it is EXACTLY where the repair was made, it points to the repair.

Just having ice on the roof does not mean it is an ice dam. There has to be ongoing melting of snow under a layer of insulating snow. If you have reasonable insulation in the attic and reasonable ventilation, you would rarely see an ice dam, AND it would be in more than one place.

Did you see lots of icicles? They are an indicator of the ongoing melting during temperatures below freezing. Ice on the roof, but no icicles, no ice dam.

There's more in terms of defining the ice condition that can lead to enough water to exceed a normal properly installed roof. However, if they didn't get the roof right, then it doesn't take as much.

Bud

 

I wonder if you had LOOSE FILL INSULATION in your attic that moved when the tree hit. If it blocked your soffit vents, that would cause ice dams. Climb into the attic and look.

 

It seems to me that you if the area leaking is in the same area as the repairs that the roofer might be at fault. The best course of action is to call them and have them take a look at it. If they are unresponsive have a reputable contractor look at it (this may cost several hundred dollars) and see what is causing the problem.