Home insurance policies cover us for unexpected damage, in other words things we can’t reasonably plan to avoid. Insurers expect us to do regular maintenance to prevent the rest. This includes keeping rain and melt water outside the roof space, by taking reasonable steps to prevent the wind blowing moisture in.
As shingles age in the sun, their corners start to dry out and curl. This can allow wind to blow moisture under them. A gust could even tear a few loose, leaving the roof underlay exposed. A good defense is having an ice and water protector sheet between them.
An Ice and Water Protector For Your Roof
An ice and water protector sheet made with polymer-modified bitumen, should meet the insurance requirement to take reasonable precaution. Of course, it should be correctly installed, and that’s where Valiant Exteriors could make the difference for your home.
These snow and ice shields, as they’re also called have a bitumen-based adhesive on the underside beneath a peel-away film. While the upside directly under the roof covering has a non-slip surface for safety during installation.
Installing Ice and Water Protection for Your Roof
It may not be necessary to treat the whole roof. Oftentimes we can get away with the high risk areas. Rest assured Valiant Exteriors will do everything we can to make your important roof repair affordable for you.
The shingles have to come off to access the roof covering, which is why we recommend considering this when re-shingling the roof. When we nail the shingles down over the ice and water protector sheet, these penetrate it. However the polymer-modified material is elastic and it forms a water proof seal around them.
Ensuring Adequate Ventilation in Roof Space Below
If we were, for example adding an ice and water protection sheet to a roof around a chimney, this should not affect the ability of the attic to ‘breathe’. However, if we were doing a significant part or all of the roof, then we would have to consider forced attic ventilation. You should think twice before bypassing this decision.
Valiant Exteriors is a family-owned waterproofing business specialising in roof coverings, eavestrough systems, attic ventilation and siding. Our office and workshop are in Calgary, and we are all local residents who understand local conditions. Please send us a message or call (403)829-1661 if you need more advice on waterproofing any part of your home.
More Information
Attic Rain and How to Prevent It
An Invitation to the Fingers of Wind: Image Dale Mahalko BY CC 3.0