Roof questions from homeowners on both sides of the line
Most questions fall into four groups: what to do when water is coming in, how the lake and the wind shape the roof, what the town requires for permits, and what the roofer and the insurer must show. Calls are answered 24/7.
- Repairs, leaks and full tear-offs
- Ice dams, lake-effect snow and wind damage
- Kenosha, Racine and northern Lake County, IL
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When the roof is letting water in
What should I do if water is coming through the ceiling?
Move what you can from under the spot, put a container under the drip, and keep out of the room if the ceiling is sagging. Do not climb onto a wet or icy roof. Call, and send photos of the ceiling and the attic if you can reach it safely.
Can ice dams really get water into the house?
Yes. Heat from the house warms the roof deck, snow melts and refreezes at the cold eave, and meltwater backs up under the shingles. University extension guidance points to air sealing, insulation and ventilation as the cure; raking snow off treats only the symptom.
Lake, wind and weather
How much snow does lake effect bring?
It depends on the shore. In the February 2021 lake-effect event, the shoreline got 10 to 16 inches while the totals fell off sharply inland. A November 2025 band left 10 to 13 inches in Pleasant Prairie and about 2 inches in Sturtevant, so a few miles can make the difference.
Can a wind line damage shingles without a tornado?
Yes. The National Weather Service's Milwaukee/Sullivan office recorded gusts of around 52 to 60 mph in the September 2022 evening wind line, with trees and lines down in Kenosha. Shingles lifted in a storm can let water in at the next rain, so get the roof checked after any wind line.
Is hail a risk here?
Hail is possible in spring and summer storms. Ask for a roof check after a storm with hail, rather than waiting for a leak to show it.
Permits and credentials
Does a reshingle need a permit in Kenosha?
Reshingling only on a one- or two-family home does not need a permit under the city's rules. New plywood roof decking does. Confirm the rule with the Kenosha Department of City Inspections before the work starts.
What does Racine ask for on a roof permit?
The city's residential roof permit application asks whether the job is a full tear-off and how many layers come off, and it asks for the contractor's dwelling contractor and qualifier numbers. Permits are valid for 18 months. Homes built before 1978 can bring in lead-safe renovation rules.
What credential does a roofer need in Wisconsin?
Roofing on one- and two-family homes generally falls under the DSPS dwelling contractor rules. Ask the roofer for its credential number and check it with DSPS. A homeowner who lives in the house and pulls a permit for their own work is exempt.
What credential does a roofer need in Illinois?
A roofer doing work for others in Lake County needs an IDFPR roofing licence under the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act. A limited licence covers residential work on properties of eight units or fewer, and an unlimited licence covers commercial work. Check the licence with IDFPR.
Insurance and complaints
Should I file a claim for storm damage?
Photograph the damage before anything is moved, keep the roofer's written scope, and call your insurer early. The policy and the insurer decide what is covered; the roofer cannot promise a payment.
Who do I complain to about an insurer?
In Wisconsin, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance investigates complaints against insurers, agents and adjusters. In Illinois, the complaint goes to the Illinois Department of Insurance. Start with the insurer or agent in writing first.
Question not answered here?
Call and ask. A technician will give you a straight answer, even if the answer is that you do not need us.