Roofing Contractor in Cedarburg, WI Built for Wisconsin Ice, Snow & Storms

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms along the eaves when snow melts on a warm upper roof and refreezes over the cold overhang. Meltwater pools behind the ice and works its way under the shingles, into soffits, walls and ceilings.

Cedarburg goes through dozens of freeze-thaw cycles every winter, and snowfall often tops 40 inches. Many 1950s–1970s homes and older Victorians were built with too little attic insulation, few intake vents and recessed lights or bath fans that leak heat into the attic. Older roofs were often installed before ice-and-water barrier became standard, or the barrier stops short of the warm wall line. Heavy snow sitting on north-facing slopes under mature trees makes it worse.

• Thick icicles hanging from gutters and eaves
• Water stains on ceilings near exterior walls
• Peeling paint or damp drywall below windows
• Ice building up inside gutters and downspouts
• Frost or wet insulation in the attic
• Sagging or detached gutters after winter

We see the most ice-dam damage on Cape Cods and story-and-a-half homes in Cedarburg, Grafton and Thiensville, where knee walls and finished upper floors leave little room for ventilation. Lake-enhanced snow in eastern Mequon and Port Washington also adds load.

We put in full ice-and-water barrier past the warm wall line and correct intake and exhaust ventilation. We also flag attic air leaks and insulation gaps so ice dams stop forming.

Hail bruises shingles, knocks off their protective granules and cracks the mat underneath. Straight-line winds lift and crease tabs or tear shingles off completely. Damage that isn't visible from the ground can still shorten a roof's life by years.

Southeast Wisconsin gets periodic severe hail and straight-line wind events, including derechos that can damage thousands of roofs in an afternoon. Onshore winds off Lake Michigan hit shoreline roofs in Port Washington, Whitefish Bay and Shorewood especially hard. Roofs that weren't installed with wind-rated starter strips or proper edge fastening fail first. After a big storm, out-of-state storm chasers flood the area, so homeowners need a local roofer who documents damage accurately and follows Wisconsin's storm-claim disclosure rules.

• Dark spots where granules are missing
• Granules piling up in gutters or at downspout outlets
• Creased, lifted or missing shingle tabs
• Dented gutters, vents or metal flashing
• Shingles or debris in the yard after a storm
• New leaks after heavy wind-driven rain

Wind damage clusters along the lakefront in Port Washington and the North Shore. Hail swaths often run across Germantown, Menomonee Falls and Mequon. Large, cut-up custom roofs have more exposed edges and ridges that can lift.

We do a documented inspection with photos and meet your adjuster on site if you'd like. Then we make storm repairs or a full replacement with wind-rated starter, proper nailing and sealed edges.

An active leak means water is coming into the house right now, through a torn section, a fallen limb, failed flashing or a backed-up ice dam. Every hour of water entry adds to drywall, insulation and framing damage.

Heavy spring and summer thunderstorms, mature maples and oaks hanging over roofs, and sudden midwinter thaws all create emergency leaks around Cedarburg. Older neighborhoods near Washington Avenue and the established blocks of Whitefish Bay and Shorewood have dense tree cover, and limb strikes are common in high wind. The roofing season is short, so many homeowners also hit a backlog just when they need help most.

• Water dripping from ceilings or light fixtures
• Bulging, wet spots in drywall
• Daylight showing through roof boards
• A limb or tree resting on the roof
• Missing sections of shingles after a storm
• Water running down interior walls

Calls spike after summer derechos and during January and February thaws. Homes under heavy canopy in historic Cedarburg, Glendale and Shorewood are most at risk from limb damage.

We send emergency tarping or a temporary seal to stop water entry and photograph everything for your insurance. Then we schedule a permanent repair as quickly as the weather allows.

Flashing is the metal that seals the joints where the roof meets chimneys, walls, dormers and skylights. When it corrodes, pulls loose or was installed with caulk instead of proper step and counter flashing, water runs straight into the framing.

Cedarburg has a lot of masonry. Cream-city brick and limestone chimneys from the 1800s and early 1900s have mortar joints that freeze-thaw cycles break down over time, loosening the counter flashing set into them. Many past reroofs just ran a bead of tar or caulk around the chimney rather than replacing flashing. Large custom homes add skylights and sidewalls against stucco or stone, where a missing kick-out flashing can rot a wall without anyone noticing.

• Stains on the ceiling around the chimney
• Crumbling mortar or loose bricks near the roofline
• Thick tar or caulk smeared around flashing
• Rust streaks on metal flashing
• Damp attic framing beside the chimney
• Water stains below skylights or dormers

This is common on historic homes along and near Washington Avenue and in the Cedar Creek Settlement area, on Tudor Revival homes in Whitefish Bay and Shorewood, and on skylight-heavy custom roofs in Mequon.

We install new step and counter flashing, cut into the mortar joints where appropriate, and add crickets behind wide chimneys. We also coordinate masonry repairs so the seal lasts.

As asphalt shingles age, they lose oils and granules. They get brittle, curl at the edges, crack and stop shedding water reliably. A roof at this stage can start leaking in several places at once.

Southeast Wisconsin's big temperature swings, from hot summer attics to deep winter cold, speed up shingle aging, especially on poorly ventilated roofs. Many homes in Cedarburg, Grafton, Brown Deer and Menomonee Falls still have 3-tab shingles from the 1990s. Many Mequon and Germantown custom homes have first-generation architectural shingles that are now 20 to 30 years old. Shade from mature trees keeps north slopes damp, which brings moss and algae that hold moisture against the shingles.

• Shingle edges curling up or corners cupping down
• Bald patches with exposed black mat
• Cracked or broken shingles after cold snaps
• Black algae streaks or moss growth
• Several mismatched patches from past repairs
• A roof older than 20–25 years

Common in 1950s–1970s neighborhoods across Grafton, Thiensville, Brown Deer and Glendale, and on 1990s subdivision homes in Germantown and Menomonee Falls. Mequon's 1980s–2000s homes are now reaching their first full replacement.

We'll tell you honestly whether targeted repairs still make sense. If not, we plan a full tear-off and replacement with upgraded underlayment, ventilation and shingles suited to your home.

Decking is the wood layer under your shingles. On older homes it's often original plank boards instead of plywood. Years of slow leaks, condensation or ice-dam water can rot the boards, leaving soft spots that won't hold nails.

Many Victorian, Queen Anne and farmhouse homes in Cedarburg and the Town of Cedarburg have had shingles layered over their original plank decking for generations. Multiple layers trap moisture and hide damage until tear-off. Wisconsin generally allows no more than two layers, so these roofs need a full strip, and that's usually when the rot shows up. Gaps between old planks can also be too wide for modern shingle nailing.

• Roof surface that sags or dips between rafters
• Spongy feel underfoot (seen by a pro)
• Dark, stained boards visible from the attic
• Nails backing out of shingles
• Two or more existing shingle layers
• History of ice dams at the eaves

Most common in the late-1800s and early-1900s homes around historic downtown Cedarburg, Hamilton and older parts of Grafton and Thiensville, and in rural farmhouses near Newburg and West Bend.

We replace rotted boards or re-sheathe with plywood over the planks as needed. We price this per sheet or per board in your contract, so there are no surprise change orders.

Leaves, seeds, shingle granules and moss pile up in gutters and valleys. Water then overflows onto fascia and foundations, and debris holds moisture against shingles. On its own it's a small problem, but it leads to bigger ones.

Cedarburg's older neighborhoods are known for mature maples and oaks, and they drop huge volumes of leaves and seed pods every fall. Shaded lots stay damp through humid springs and autumns, so moss and algae grow easily. Many mid-century homes still have undersized aluminum gutters, and historic homes have built-in box gutters that clog and leak behind the trim. In winter, full gutters freeze solid and make ice dams worse.

• Water spilling over gutters during rain
• Plants or moss growing in gutters or valleys
• Gutters pulling away from the fascia
• Stained or rotting fascia boards
• Green moss patches on shaded slopes
• Pooling water near the foundation

Most common under the heavy canopy of historic Cedarburg, Whitefish Bay, Shorewood and Glendale. Box gutters on Washington Avenue-area homes and North Shore Tudors need particular attention.

Routine maintenance clears gutters, valleys and moss. Where needed, we recommend properly sized gutters, gutter guards or box gutter relining to keep water moving.