Roofing/Ice dam leakage

Advertisement

Expert: Brian Atkins - 7/4/2009


Question
Dear Brian:

My house experienced serious leakage in the winter when the snow melting in Spring. Also we found the water could be seen dropped from the roof in the attic in winter. Someone suggest a betterment of insulation to resolve the leakage. Will this work or the roof should be repaired or replaced? How to tell what should be done to prevent same disaster in the coming winter? Thank you very much.

Answer
Good Morning Jeanne,

You need to find the leak source.  Do not just add insulation to "mask" the problem.  That is a very bad idea and the leak will just keep getting worse and cause more damage.


You need to have a licensed roofing contractor who is familiar with leak detection and repair find and repair the leak for once and for all.

A good water proofer should be able to give you a 2 year warranty on this type of repair.

Roofing

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Brian Atkins

Expertise

I can answer any question related to all type of roof repairs (especially tile roof repair and flat roof repair work). I can also answer most new roof or roofing related questions with the exception of questions in regards to single ply roofing (PVC) and standing seam or metal panel roofing. I have little or no experience with those applications.

Experience

I was first introduced to roofing by my father who was started his own roofing career in Orange County CA. By the time I was 10 years old I knew what most general roofing materials were and had some idea of their purpose. At the age of thirteen I started working during the summer for my Fathers roofing company Atkins Certified Custom Home Roofing. After graduating from La Quinta High School in 1988 I immediately began working full time as a journeyman roofer doing roof repair work and complete new roofs. My area of specialty and interests has always been on the roof repair side of the business. My Dad did an excellent job at teaching me the basics of roof repair. He showed me some of the techniques that were taught to him from old time roofers that took him under their belt when he was an apprentice. In 1992 my Dad signed for my first license and formed a partnership with me and I started my first roofing company in Irvine CA. This is where started to make my own niche in roofing by specializing in roof repair, dry rot repair, termite damage repair, and full roof restorations. In 1997 I took the CSLB testing and qualified for a license on my own and moved my roofing business location to Lake Forest, CA 92630. Currently I operate South County Roofing company serving the following areas of Orange County Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, Aliso Viejo, Buena Park, Brea, Cypress, Capistrano Beach, Costa Mesa, Corona Del Mar, Dana Point, El Toro, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Foothill Ranch, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Lake Forest, Lemon Heights, Mission Viejo, Orange, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Seal Beach, Silverado Canyon, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Tustin, Trabuco Canyon, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda

Education/Credentials
La Quinta High School 1988 Westminster, Ca 92683-7098

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.