Beware Of Not Knowing Code

By Brenda Stone
Bismarck

I feel compelled to alert home buyers and folks getting new roofs in our area about a code that has not been enforced but could cause you a lot of grief. The code is for ice protection and, in short, “… it is two layers of underpayment that extend from the eve’s edge in areas with average temperatures in January of 24 degrees or less.” This is from the International Residential Code Book page 254, #R905.2.7.I, adopted by the City of Bismarck in 2003.

Last year I was in the process of purchasing a home. It had hail damage on the roof, therefore the roof needed replacing. The roof was replaced in below-freezing weather. My house inspector assessed the roof only to find out that there was no ice protection. I then had a roof inspector take a look to confirm this, only to find out that the shingles were not lying down properly due to their installation in cold weather. Once my insurance company inspected the roof they said that the condition of the roof was not acceptable and they would not insure the house; therefore, my financing fell through. Neither the sellers nor the roofing contractor were willing to fix this problem.

It seems as though our city has been lax in inspecting the roofs because they are short-handed. I understand that, but once a roof is found not to be to code then there should be a fine or some other repercussion. Since this is not the case I have found out that there may be builders and contractors that are ignoring this code and roofing houses without the protection shield.

My suggestion to you is that if you have had a roof replaced or a house built since 2003, ask a home inspector to see if your house has an ice protection barrier. If not, call the contractor and city inspector to get that problem resolved before you have water under your shingles from ice or rain and need to call your insurance company.