Roofing questions from Springfield, MA homeowners

Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the roof. The meltwater runs down to the cold eave, refreezes and backs up under the shingles. The state's cure starts with an energy assessment to find air leaks and insulation gaps, then attic air sealing and insulation. See ice dam removal and prevention.

Where the average daily January temperature is 25°F or less, or where ice can form along the eaves and back up water, the state building code calls for a special underlayment. It is two layers cemented together or a self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen sheet, run from the eave to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line, over solid sheathing. The building inspector confirms the extent for each address.

Shave snow to about 2 or 3 inches rather than scraping the roof bare, since scraping damages shingles and other coverings. Use a plastic shovel, because metal tools can damage the roof. Do not use a ladder on icy ground, and do not stand on the roof.

Repair is preferred whenever it is possible. Use solid copper or stainless steel slater's nails, because plain steel and galvanized nails usually rust out first. Roofing mastic is not a viable repair, and if 20% or more of the slates on a slope are broken, cracked, missing or sliding, replacing that slope is usually less expensive.

Remaining life is judged on the roof itself, not on a set number of years. Look at granule loss, curling, nail condition and the decking underneath. Freeze-thaw events and heat cycling weaken asphalt shingles over time, so an older roof gets a closer check each season.

Massachusetts has no roofing license. A roof-covering specialty construction supervisor license is an examined credential, and HIC registration covers owner-occupied homes of one to four units. The two need not be held by the same person. See the CSL and HIC guide.

Springfield has local historic districts, including McKnight, where houses were built 1870 to 1900, Ridgewood, largely 1890 to 1910, and Forest Park Heights. The Historical Commission must approve exterior work before it begins, while ordinary maintenance not visible from a public street can go by certificate of non-applicability. Ask the Commission about any address, since this page cannot say whether a property is in a district.

The June 1, 2011 tornado was rated EF3, with estimated winds of 160 mph, and its path ran from Westfield through West Springfield and Springfield. NOAA counts three direct deaths and about 1,400 houses damaged or destroyed, roughly 300 of them destroyed. The path was about 38 miles long. See what the 2011 tornado taught roofers.

Wet snow fell on trees still carrying leaves, on ground softened by a warm, rainy spell, so trees uprooted and limbs came down. Massachusetts had roughly 420,000 outages, and some customers in western Massachusetts were without power for over 11 days. Roof and tree damage often arrive together in this valley.

The state Division of Insurance says ice dam damage may be covered if it was sudden and not caused by a lack of maintenance. Clear gutters before the first snow, keep dated photos and receipts, and check your own policy with your insurer.