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Roofing, rejuvenation, gutters & siding in Novi, MI Family owned since 1995 Call (248) 516-0611
Kincaide Roofing & Rejuvenation NoviRoofing Contractor (248) 516-0611
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  2. Leak Prevention & Waterproofing
Leak prevention in Novi, MI

Roof Waterproofing in Novi, MI before it leaks

Ice along the eaves, icicles over the front door and stains that show up every March. We find out why ice dams form on your Novi home and fix the flashing, ventilation and underlayment that let water in.

  • Ice and water shield
  • Flashing done right
  • Balanced attic ventilation
  • Free roof inspection
1995Family owned & operated
5.0 ★Google rating, 29 reviews
FreeInspection & estimate

Free roof inspection & estimate

Novi homeowners. A roofer, not a call center, gets back to you.

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Leak prevention & waterproofing

Why Novi homes get ice dams

An ice dam forms when heat from the house warms the roof deck, snow melts higher up, and the water refreezes at the cold eave. The ice builds a ridge, more meltwater pools behind it, and that water backs up under the shingles and into the soffits, walls and ceilings.

Many Novi homes have features that make this more likely: vaulted ceilings and cathedral rooms, finished bonus rooms over attached garages, recessed lights in top-floor ceilings, and complex rooflines where valleys and dormers trap snow. Older homes may have little or no ice and water shield at the eaves, and attic insulation or ventilation that never quite worked.

Fixing it usually takes more than heat cable. We look at the attic for warm spots, missing insulation and blocked soffit vents, and on the roof for missing or short ice and water shield, poor drip edge and failing flashing. When we re-roof or repair, we install ice and water shield at the eaves and in valleys, open up intake ventilation and balance it with ridge venting. The goal is a cold roof deck that keeps snow where it belongs until it melts off cleanly.

Shingle roof eaves and valleys where ice dams form
30+Michigan winters on roofs
What we do

The details that keep water out

Leak prevention is not one product. It is a handful of details done right.

Ice and water shield

Self-sealing membrane at the eaves, valleys and around penetrations, where water backs up.

First line against ice dams

Step & counter flashing

Metal flashing where the roof meets walls and chimneys, layered so water runs out, not in.

Most common leak point

Attic ventilation

Soffit intake and ridge exhaust balanced so the roof deck stays cold in winter.

Prevents the dam itself

Drip edge

Metal edging at the eaves and rakes that carries water into the gutter and off the fascia.

Protects the roof edge

Pipe boots & vents

Cracked rubber boots and loose vent flashing replaced before they let water down the pipe.

Small part, big leak

Gutters & downspouts

Clear, properly pitched gutters move meltwater away instead of letting it freeze at the edge.

Part of the system
Fix or prevent?

Where the fix belongs

Heat cables and roof rakes deal with ice after it forms. They can help in a pinch, but they do not fix why the ice is there. The lasting fix is stopping the heat that melts the snow and protecting the roof edge where water collects.

On an existing roof, we can often improve ventilation, replace failed flashing and boots, and repair the eaves without replacing the whole roof. Ice and water shield goes on the decking under the shingles, so adding it means removing the shingles in that area. On a roof near the end of its life, it goes in as part of a full replacement.

We inspect the roof and attic, photograph what we find and explain which fixes fit your roof.

Book a free inspection

Common fixes and when they fit
FixExisting roofWith a new roof
Ice and water shieldAt repaired areasEaves and valleys
FlashingReplace failed sectionsAll new
VentilationAdd or balance ventsDesigned in
Pipe bootsReplace cracked onesAll new
Drip edgeWhere it’s missingFull perimeter
How it works

Find it, explain it, fix it

You see what we see before you decide anything.

Roof & attic inspection

We check the eaves, valleys, flashing and vents, and look in the attic for heat loss and moisture.

  • Photos of problem areas
  • Ventilation checked
  • Signs of past ice dams

Written options

You get the photos and a written estimate for the fixes that address the cause.

  • Cause explained plainly
  • Repair vs. replace honesty
  • Free written estimate

Careful install

We do the work with the house protected, clean up daily and show you photos of the finished details.

  • Photos of the work
  • Daily cleanup
  • End-of-day briefing
Reviews

What our customers say

Real reviews from homeowners across Metro Detroit.

5.0Based on 29 Google reviews
★★★★★
“Very awesome, professional experience with Kincaide!!! Scott and his crew is wonderful. They do good work, really put things in terms so that people can understand things better. We will definitely be sticking with KINCAIDE!!!”
Google review
J B.Google review
★★★★★
“I can’t say enough good things about this company. Scott the owner walked me through the whole process from start to finish. They protected my house with boards during the job and did a fantastic job on clean up! All this and a fair price!”
Google review
Cheryl A.Google review
★★★★★
“Kincaide roofing went above and beyond our expectations. Scott (the owner) took pictures of every step and fix he made. They were punctual, thorough and very professional. No B.S. with Scott, the communication was straight forward and gave us briefings every night before they left.”
Google review
Greg Y.Google review
Novi winters

The freeze-thaw season is the leak season

In Novi, many leaks don’t show up in a summer storm. They show up during a January thaw.

Southeast Michigan winters swing above and below freezing over and over. Each warm afternoon melts some snow, each cold night refreezes it at the eaves, and by late winter a small gap in flashing or underlayment has been tested dozens of times. That is why so many Novi homeowners find stains in February and March. Fixing the cause in the warmer months, before the next winter, is the best time to do it.

Ice and water shield

A self-sealing membrane at eaves and valleys that keeps backed-up water out of the house.

Attic ventilation

Open soffit intake and ridge exhaust keep the roof deck cold and even.

Flashing

Walls, chimneys, skylights and pipe boots sealed so meltwater has nowhere to go.

  • Novi
  • Northville
  • Wixom
  • Walled Lake
  • Farmington Hills
  • Commerce Township
  • Lyon Township
  • South Lyon
  • Livonia
  • Plymouth
Roofing questions

Ice dam and leak questions from Novi homeowners

What causes them, what fixes them and what to do in the meantime.

Why does my Novi home get ice dams when my neighbor’s doesn’t?
Even similar homes in the same subdivision can differ in attic insulation, air leaks, ventilation and roofline. A bonus room over the garage or a vaulted ceiling often makes the difference. We check the attic and roof to find the cause.
Do I need a permit to add ice and water shield or ventilation in Novi?
If it is part of a re-roof, the roofing permit typically covers it. For other changes, check with the City of Novi building division for your address.
Will heat cable stop ice dams?
It can help keep a path open for meltwater, but it doesn’t fix the heat loss causing the problem. Insulation, air sealing and ventilation address the cause.
Should I chip ice off my roof?
We don’t recommend it. Chipping and hammering damage shingles and gutters, and working on an icy roof is dangerous. A roof rake used from the ground for the bottom few feet of snow is safer.
Can you add ice and water shield without replacing the whole roof?
Sometimes along the eaves, by removing and reinstalling the lower courses of shingles, depending on their condition. On an older roof it often makes more sense to do it with a replacement.
When is the best time to fix ice dam problems?
Spring through fall, before the next winter. We can inspect during winter to see where ice forms, then do the work in warmer weather.

End the ice dams before next winter

Book a free inspection of your Novi roof and attic. We’ll show you where the heat and water are getting through.

Call now Free inspection