Roofing questions for Stamford homes and buildings

The old covering comes off, the decking is checked once it is open, and then underlayment, flashing and new covering go on. How many layers are already there, and what the decking looks like, often decides how much work there is. See roof replacement.

An ice dam needs snow, heat to melt it and cold to refreeze the meltwater at the eaves. Heat leaking from the attic keeps the roof warm enough to melt snow, and the water backs up under the covering. Air-sealing the ceiling comes first, then insulation and venting; see ice dam removal and prevention.

Salt air is a reason to look closely at flashings, fixings and gutters on a shorefront house. Check that metals are matched or isolated, and that fixings are non-ferrous where metals meet. Anything rusting or lifting is worth a visit.

On slate and clay tile, the fastenings usually fail before the tiles do. Corroded nails are the common cause, and slate should be refastened with solid copper or stainless nails, not plain steel. Steeper slate lasts longer because water drains faster; see slate roof repair.

Yes. A flat or low-slope roof over heated space is membrane and drainage work, not shingle work. Modern houses in New Canaan are a common case; see flat roofs and modern houses in New Canaan.

Connecticut issues no roofing license. Contractors doing roofing work on homes register as Home Improvement Contractors with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, which handles complaints. You can check a registration in the state's eLicense system.

For Connecticut home improvement work, yes. The contract must carry the contractor's registration number and four dates, and you have a three-day right to cancel, with Saturdays counted as business days. No work should start during that period unless you waive the right in a genuine emergency.

The city does, through the Stamford Building Department, which has its own roofing forms. Ordinary repairs may not need a permit, so confirm with the department at BuildingDept@StamfordCT.Gov. When a roof permit is issued without a building permit, a final inspection must be called in.

New York State does not license home improvement contractors, but Westchester County does, through its Department of Consumer Protection. The license covers roof work on residences of up to three units, and licensed contractors display a green sticker on the rear bumper. New York law requires a written contract for work of $500 or more.

The Stamford Hurricane Protection Barrier protects about 600 acres of downtown from surge. It does nothing for a roof, so the roof still needs checking after a storm.