Roofing Army of Troy, MI

Troy gets hit with everything Michigan can throw at a roof. Winter brings heavy wet snow — sometimes a foot in a single storm — that loads up on the large roof systems common in Troy subdivisions. Between December and March, the constant freeze-thaw cycle is the real killer. Snow melts during a warm afternoon, then refreezes overnight at the eaves, building up ice dams that force water backward under your shingles. We get more roof repair calls for ice dam leaks from Troy homeowners than almost any other issue in winter.

The homes most vulnerable to ice dams are the ones with poor attic ventilation — and that includes a lot of Troy's older housing stock. When warm air leaks into the attic, it melts snow from the underside of the roof unevenly, and that is exactly how ice dams form. Most Troy homes built before 1990 have undersized soffit vents or no ridge vent at all.

Spring and summer bring a different problem. Oakland County averages 30 or more thunderstorm days per year, and Troy sees its share of straight-line winds, heavy downpours, and occasional hail. After a big storm, we often find shingles lifted or torn off entirely — especially three-tab shingles on older roofs where the adhesive strip has dried out. Storm damage is one of the most common reasons Troy homeowners file insurance claims on their roofs.

If you have not had a roof inspection in the last two years, spring is the time to do it — after the freeze-thaw season ends and before summer storms start. Our inspections are free, take about 30 minutes, and we check everything from the shingles down to the decking condition inside your attic.

Troy covers zip codes 48083, 48084, 48085, 48098, and 48099, and has over 87,000 residents across neighborhoods that span five decades of construction. Each era of housing has its own roofing story, and our crews know what to expect before they pull into the driveway.

1960s ranch homes and split-levels — You will find these south of Big Beaver around Wattles Road, Livernois, and the 48084 zip code. Low-slope roof sections, original plywood decking that may be delaminating, and almost no soffit ventilation. Many of these homes are on their third or fourth roof, and we regularly find two or three layers of shingles stacked up that need a full tear off. Budget for decking replacement on these — after 60 years of Michigan weather, the plywood under the shingles rarely looks good.

1970s–1990s colonials and cape cods — Northfield Hills, Somerset Park, Forest Hills, the neighborhoods along Long Lake Road and South Boulevard. These are Troy's bread-and-butter roofing jobs. Complex roof systems with multiple valleys, dormers, hip-to-gable transitions, and steeper pitches that require more material and careful flashing work during a roof replacement. Roof areas on these homes commonly run 2,500 to 3,500 square feet. The original three-tab shingles are long gone, and many of these homes are now due for their second set of architectural shingles.

2000s and newer construction — Northwest Troy near Oakland Mall and some of the developments off South Boulevard. Better ventilation systems and OSB decking from the factory, but the builder-grade shingles installed during construction are now 15 to 20 years old and starting to show their age — especially on south and west facing roof planes that take the most UV exposure year after year.

Troy's property values are among the highest in Oakland County, and homeowners here expect professional results. A quality roof with premium shingles is not just protection — it is curb appeal and resale value. We also regularly install seamless gutters alongside roof replacements for Troy homeowners who want to handle everything in one project.

Ice Dams

The number one winter call we get from Troy homeowners. Heat leaks into the attic, melts snow on the upper roof, and that meltwater refreezes into a solid ice ridge at the eave. Water pools behind it and backs up under your shingles. The result is ceiling stains, wet insulation, and sometimes mold in the attic. The long-term fix is proper attic ventilation and air sealing. If your home is actively leaking from an ice dam right now, our emergency tarping crew can be there the same day.

Wind Damage After Summer Storms

Oakland County averages 30-plus thunderstorm days per year. High winds peel back shingles — especially three-tab shingles on roofs older than 15 years, where the adhesive strip has dried out and lost its grip. After a big storm, you might see shingles in the yard or notice exposed black underlayment from the street. Even a few missing shingles leave your decking exposed to rain. We do storm damage repairs in Troy regularly and can usually get the repair done within a few days of your call.

Failing Pipe Boots and Flashing

The rubber boots around your plumbing vents and the metal flashing at your chimney, walls, and valleys do not last as long as the shingles. After 12 to 15 years, rubber cracks and metal corrodes. These are the sneaky leaks — water gets in at the pipe boot, runs down a rafter inside the attic, and shows up as a stain on a ceiling 10 feet away from the actual leak. An attic inspection from below is the fastest way to catch these before they cause real damage.

Worn-Out Ventilation Systems

A lot of Troy homes built before 1990 have undersized soffit vents, no ridge vent, or both. Bad ventilation does two things: it cooks your shingles from underneath in summer (cutting years off their lifespan) and it traps moisture in winter (leading to mold on the underside of the decking and ice dams at the eaves). We check ventilation on every inspection and every replacement. Adding proper intake and exhaust ventilation during a reroof is one of the best investments you can make.

Multiple Shingle Layers

Michigan code allows a maximum of two layers of shingles. We regularly find two and sometimes three layers on older Troy homes, especially in the neighborhoods south of Big Beaver. More layers means more trapped heat, more weight on the structure, and no way to see the decking condition underneath. On a full replacement, we tear everything off, inspect every sheet of decking, replace any soft or water-damaged sections, and start fresh from the ice and water shield up.

Troy Roofing Permits and Building Codes

Troy requires a building permit for any roof replacement or reroof. The city runs a fully paperless system through BSAonline.com, administered by SAFEbuilt Michigan. The permit fee is based on a percentage of construction cost (currently around 1%) plus a $20 processing fee. Standard residential roofing permits are typically approved within 48 to 72 hours.

Troy enforces the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which requires ice and water shield along all eaves in Oakland County's climate zone, proper underlayment on the entire roof deck, and a maximum of two shingle layers before a full tear off is mandatory. Troy also requires a final inspection after installation — we schedule these through the Troy inspection line (248-689-5744) before 2 PM for next-day service.

All roofing contractors working in Troy must hold a valid Michigan Residential Builder's License or Maintenance and Alteration Contractor License through LARA, and must register with the City of Troy building department. We handle all of this for every Troy project — you do not need to pull permits yourself or deal with the building department directly.