Common roof problems in Detroit and what the repair costs

Hail and wind damage lead the list here, followed by ice dams and worn flashing on older homes. NOAA's storm records show 18 hail events of one inch or larger in the county since 2015, and the largest stone was 1.75 inches. Hail that size bruises shingles and loosens the granules that protect them, so a roof can look fine from the street and still leak by spring.

Age adds to the problem. By Census estimates for 2019 to 2023, 90% of homes in Detroit were built before 1980, so many roofs sit on decking and flashing that have been through decades of freeze and thaw. Roofers Hotline handles roof repair for each of these problems here. Call and tell us which one sounds closest to yours, and the visit will confirm it.

Start in the attic with a flashlight. Dark stains on the underside of the decking, damp insulation or daylight around a chimney point to a leak, and they often show up before a ceiling stain does. Outside, look for shingles that are cracked, curled or missing, bare spots where granules washed into the gutters, and bent metal around vents and valleys.

Ice dams leave their own signs: icicles along the eaves, water stains on exterior walls and ceilings just inside the outer wall. The ice dam risk here is High, and the nearest NOAA station at Willow Run records 130 days a year with a low at or below 32 F and 45 inches of snow in the 1991 to 2020 climate normals. Hail damage looks like dark, round bruises, and July is the peak month. If you find any of these, call and book an inspection with a written estimate.

Water coming through a ceiling, a sagging section of roof, or shingles torn off after a storm should not wait. Call right away, because Roofers Hotline answers 24 hours a day and can arrange emergency tarping and leak repair. Wet insulation and soaked decking get worse with each rain, and the repair grows with them.

Storm history is the reason to act fast after bad weather. Ten tornadoes have touched down within 25 km of Detroit since 2000, the strongest rated EF2, and the latest was on June 5, 2024. Federal disaster declarations that include the county number 14 from 1972 to date, the most recent for Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding on February 8, 2024. After any storm like that, check the attic and the yard for shingle debris. If you see damage, call for the inspection and ask for the written estimate. Michigan requires a Residential Builder or Maintenance and Alteration license from LARA for residential roofing work, and you can look up any license at Michigan LARA.