SouthfieldRoofing Contractor
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- Leak Prevention & Waterproofing
Roof Waterproofing in Southfield, MI before it leaks
Icicles along the gutters and a brown stain by the outside wall every February are signs of an ice dam. We find out why your Southfield home gets them and fix the cause with ice and water shield, flashing and ventilation.
- Ice and water shield
- Flashing done right
- Balanced attic ventilation
- Free roof inspection
Free roof inspection & estimate
Southfield homeowners. A roofer, not a call center, gets back to you.
Why older Southfield homes get ice dams
An ice dam starts in the attic. Heat leaks up from the house, warms the roof deck and melts the snow on top. The water runs down to the cold eaves, freezes, and builds a ridge of ice that traps the next round of meltwater. That water backs up under the shingles and comes through the ceiling or down the inside of an exterior wall.
Many Southfield homes from the 1950s and 1960s are set up for exactly that. Their attics were built with little ventilation, insulation was added later without baffles at the eaves, and bath fans or kitchen vents sometimes dump warm, damp air into the attic instead of outside. Low ranch roofs hold snow longer, and many older roofs were installed before ice and water shield was common.
Fixing it means working on both sides of the roof deck. On top, we install ice and water shield at the eaves and in the valleys, new drip edge and sound flashing. Underneath, we look at intake and exhaust ventilation and point out where warm air is getting into the attic. Heat cable and chipping ice treat the symptom; the goal is a roof deck that stays cold.
The details that keep water out
Leak prevention is not one product. It is a handful of details done right.
Ice and water shield
Self-sealing membrane at the eaves, valleys and around penetrations, where water backs up.
Step & counter flashing
Metal flashing where the roof meets walls and chimneys, layered so water runs out, not in.
Attic ventilation
Soffit intake and ridge exhaust balanced so the roof deck stays cold in winter.
Drip edge
Metal edging at the eaves and rakes that carries water into the gutter and off the fascia.
Pipe boots & vents
Cracked rubber boots and loose vent flashing replaced before they let water down the pipe.
Gutters & downspouts
Clear, properly pitched gutters move meltwater away instead of letting it freeze at the edge.
Where the fix belongs
Heat cables and roof rakes deal with ice after it forms. They can help in a pinch, but they do not fix why the ice is there. The lasting fix is stopping the heat that melts the snow and protecting the roof edge where water collects.
On an existing roof, we can often improve ventilation, replace failed flashing and boots, and repair the eaves without replacing the whole roof. Ice and water shield goes on the decking under the shingles, so adding it means removing the shingles in that area. On a roof near the end of its life, it goes in as part of a full replacement.
We inspect the roof and attic, photograph what we find and explain which fixes fit your roof.
| Fix | Existing roof | With a new roof |
|---|---|---|
| Ice and water shield | At repaired areas | Eaves and valleys |
| Flashing | Replace failed sections | All new |
| Ventilation | Add or balance vents | Designed in |
| Pipe boots | Replace cracked ones | All new |
| Drip edge | Where it’s missing | Full perimeter |
Find it, explain it, fix it
You see what we see before you decide anything.
Roof & attic inspection
We check the eaves, valleys, flashing and vents, and look in the attic for heat loss and moisture.
- Photos of problem areas
- Ventilation checked
- Signs of past ice dams
Written options
You get the photos and a written estimate for the fixes that address the cause.
- Cause explained plainly
- Repair vs. replace honesty
- Free written estimate
Careful install
We do the work with the house protected, clean up daily and show you photos of the finished details.
- Photos of the work
- Daily cleanup
- End-of-day briefing
More ways to keep water out
From one leak to a complete new roof system.
Roof Repair
Leaks, missing shingles, flashing and storm damage found and fixed, with photos of every repair.
Learn more
Roof Replacement
Full tear-off and a new Owens Corning shingle system, with the yard protected and cleaned up every day.
Learn more
Gutters
Seamless gutters and downspouts sized for the roof, with guards that cut down on clogs.
Learn moreWhat our customers say
Real reviews from homeowners across Metro Detroit.
“Very awesome, professional experience with Kincaide!!! Scott and his crew is wonderful. They do good work, really put things in terms so that people can understand things better. We will definitely be sticking with KINCAIDE!!!”
“I can’t say enough good things about this company. Scott the owner walked me through the whole process from start to finish. They protected my house with boards during the job and did a fantastic job on clean up! All this and a fair price!”
“Kincaide roofing went above and beyond our expectations. Scott (the owner) took pictures of every step and fix he made. They were punctual, thorough and very professional. No B.S. with Scott, the communication was straight forward and gave us briefings every night before they left.”
The freeze-thaw months are the leak months
Most leaks we see in Southfield homes show up between December and March, when snow sits on the roof and temperatures swing above and below freezing.
Southeast Michigan winters bring repeated thaws, with sunny days that melt snow and nights that refreeze it at the eaves. On Southfield’s shaded, tree-lined streets, the north side of a roof can hold snow for weeks while the sunny side melts. Gutters packed with fall leaves make it worse, because the ice has nowhere to go but back up the roof.
Ice and water shield
A self-sealing membrane at the eaves and valleys that keeps backed-up water out of the house.
Attic ventilation
Soffit intake and ridge or roof exhaust that keep the roof deck cold in winter.
Warm-air leaks
Bath fans and attic hatches that push heat and moisture into the attic, found and pointed out.
- Southfield
- Lathrup Village
- Northland area
- Oak Park
- Detroit
- Farmington Hills
- Bingham Farms
- Franklin
- Beverly Hills
Ice dam & leak prevention questions from Southfield homeowners
Why ice dams form and what actually stops them.
Why does my Southfield ranch get ice dams every winter?
Do I need a permit to add ice and water shield or ventilation in Southfield?
Will heat cable stop ice dams?
Should I chip ice off my roof?
Can you add ice and water shield without replacing the whole roof?
When is the best time to fix ice dam problems?
Stop leaks before they start in Southfield
Book a free inspection. We’ll check the eaves, flashing and attic and show you what is causing the ice dams.