Roofing in Berwyn, IL

Serving Berwyn and

Common Roof Problems in Berwyn

Berwyn homes face year-round roofing challenges from Chicago's harsh climate and the age of local building stock.

Heavy winter snow, lake-effect ice dams, and spring hail storms damage pitched roofs on 1920s brick bungalows and mid-century ranches alike.

• Ice dams — Snow melts on your roof deck, refreezes at the eave, and water backs up behind frozen ridge lines. If underlayment and ice-and-water shield are missing or failed, water wicks into the rafter system and attic, causing rot that spreads through your framing.
• Granule loss on asphalt shingles — Hail and freeze-thaw cycles knock granules off your shingles, exposing the asphalt and bitumen layer to UV rays and accelerating decay. Once an asphalt shingle roof loses granules in early spring, it fails within 3-5 years without replacement.
• Flashing and boot seal failures — Step flashing where the roof meets a chimney, counter-flashing on dormers, and pipe boot seals can rust or lose sealant, allowing water to seep into wall cavities and cause interior damage.
• Gutter clogging and ponding water — Debris and winter ice clogs gutters and downspouts, causing water to pond on the roofline. Ponding erodes the drip edge, rots the fascia and soffit, and wicks water under shingles to decay the substrate.
• Wind uplift and shingle tear-off — Spring storms with 50+ mph winds lift shingles and expose the roof deck and underlayment to rain. Torn shingles allow water to enter the decking, rot rafters and joists, and damage insulation below.
• Dormer roof and skylight seal failure — Older Berwyn homes with dormers and skylights rely on counter-flashing, boot flashing, and sealant to stay dry. When sealant cracks and flashing pulls away from the roof, water streams in and rots the framing around the opening.