How Do Ice Storms Damage Roofs in North Carolina, and What Should You Do?

Ice storms hit the Piedmont hard because of its position between the mountains and the coast. Cold, dry air from high pressure to the north gets wedged against the east side of the Appalachians, while warmer, moist air rides over the top. Rain falls through that warm layer and then freezes on contact with the cold trees, power lines and roofs below. The State Climate Office of North Carolina describes this cold-air damming, or Appalachian wedge, as a common setup for the state's wintry weather.

The December 4 and 5, 2002 storm is the benchmark. The State Climate Office describes freezing rain lasting more than 12 hours, with up to an inch of ice in parts of the Piedmont. Its storm record shows a quarter inch or more of ice mainly west of I-95, and half an inch to an inch along a band from Albemarle through Asheboro and Durham to Warrenton. Duke Energy reported more than one million North Carolina customers without power, and power was not fully restored until December 14. Most accounts describe it as North Carolina's worst ice storm on record.

It was not a one-time event. NOAA's state climate summary notes a February 2014 storm that brought as much as half an inch of freezing rain to some areas. Homes in Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Charlotte and the Triad towns between them should plan for ice in any winter.

The most common and most serious roof damage in a North Carolina ice storm comes from trees. Ice adds weight to every branch, and pines and hardwoods that would shrug off rain snap or uproot under the load. During the 2002 storm, the State Climate Office's record notes that large trees and power lines were downed across the area by ice.

Typical ice storm roof damage includes:

• Punctures and crushed framing from falling limbs and whole trees.
• Torn or bent gutters pulled down by the weight of ice and icicles.
• Damaged shingles, ridge caps and vents where branches scraped across the roof.
• Leaks where ice blocks gutters, valleys or roof drains and meltwater backs up under the roofing.
• Damaged satellite dishes, antennas and service masts where lines were pulled down.

On a sound roof, the coating of ice on the roof surface itself is usually not the main problem. The trouble comes from what lands on the roof and from water that cannot drain. That is why tree work before winter does more than anything else to limit ice storm damage. Ice dams, where meltwater refreezes at a cold eave, can occur where snow lingers for days, more often at higher elevations.

During an ice storm, stay inside, keep away from rooms under large trees if you can, and do not go onto the roof or under ice-loaded trees. Most injuries in ice storms come from falls and falling limbs, not from the houses themselves.

• Do not climb a ladder or walk on the roof to knock ice off. Ice-coated roofs and ladders are extremely slippery, and chipping ice can tear shingles and dent metal.
• Do not try to pull icicles or ice off gutters; they can bring the gutter and fascia down with them.
• Keep people and pets away from the drip line of large trees and from downed power lines, which may be live even if they are not sparking.
• If a limb comes through the roof, move people out of that room, catch water with buckets and tarps on the floor, and turn off power to that area if water is near fixtures.
• Use generators outdoors only, well away from doors and windows.

Write down when damage happened and take photos as soon as it is safe. Those records help with the insurance claim, especially when power and phone service are out for days.

After the ice melts, check the roof from the ground and the attic, document anything you find, and have a roofer look at areas where limbs hit. Ice often hides damage until it melts, so a second look a day or two after the thaw is worthwhile.

From the ground, look for broken limbs still hanging over or resting on the roof, missing or scraped shingles, bent ridge caps and vents, sagging gutters and pulled fascia. In the attic, look for daylight, wet insulation and wet or cracked framing, especially under the spots where trees struck. Inside, check ceilings along exterior walls for new stains, which can point to meltwater that backed up at the eaves.

Photograph everything before cleanup, including the trees and limbs where they fell. The North Carolina Department of Insurance advises documenting damage with a written list and photos before temporary repairs, limiting further damage, keeping receipts and holding off on permanent repairs until the insurer inspects. Have a tree service remove anything resting on the roof; cutting a loaded limb from the roof surface is dangerous and can make the damage worse. Our article on signs you need a new roof explains what wear to watch for once the storm damage is fixed.

Usually, yes: a homeowners policy generally responds to damage when a tree falls on the house in a storm, whoever owned the tree. NC State Extension's guide to tree-fall liability explains that a homeowners policy should cover the damage and removal even when the tree is rooted across the property line, and that the policyholder does not have to establish fault.

The same guide notes that North Carolina does not follow a strict liability rule where the tree's owner automatically pays. Liability depends on negligence, such as leaving a dead, dying or heavily leaning tree in place when the danger was reasonably foreseeable. Severe weather alone typically does not make a neighbor liable, although the effects of wind and ice on an obviously ailing tree can be considered foreseeable.

Check your deductible and any limits on tree removal in your policy, and report the claim promptly. Policy terms in North Carolina's standard fire policy call for a sworn proof of loss within 60 days of the loss unless the insurer extends it in writing. Our article on roof insurance claims in NC covers the claim process step by step.

The single most effective step is tree work in the fall. Have a certified arborist look at every tree that could reach the house and remove dead wood, weak crotches and limbs overhanging the roof. Leaning trees and trees with root damage near the house are worth a closer look.

Other steps that help:

• Clean gutters, downspouts and valleys before winter so meltwater can drain.
• Make sure gutters and their hangers are fastened into solid fascia.
• Replace worn shingles, cracked pipe boots and loose flashing so meltwater has no easy way in.
• Check attic insulation and air sealing; a warm attic melts snow and ice unevenly, which can feed refreezing at the eaves.
• Know where your main electrical shutoff is, and keep a tarp, plastic sheeting and buckets on hand.

If your roof is due for replacement, a system with interlocking panels and concealed fasteners gives limbs fewer edges to catch. Interlock aluminum roofing, sold and installed by Metal Roof NC as an authorized Interlock dealer, is one option for Triangle, Triad and Charlotte-area homes; our aluminum roofing and Durham pages explain more. Pine needle and leaf buildup is covered in pine needles and roof debris.