Snow and ice claims for Columbus commercial roofs
Columbus winters put commercial roofs through repeated freeze-thaw cycling rather than one dramatic event — temperatures swing above and below freezing through December, January, and February, and any trapped moisture in the roof assembly expands and contracts with each cycle. Ice dams form at parapets, drains, and roof-to-wall transitions where snow melts and refreezes, and the ponded water that results can back up under flashing and membrane laps that were never designed to hold standing water.
We inspect for both storm-specific damage — a heavy snow load event, ice buildup that damaged a specific area — and the slower freeze-thaw deterioration that shows up as membrane cracking, deteriorated sealant, and expanding blisters over a winter season. We're your roofing contractor, not a public adjuster — we document the condition and the mechanism of damage so the claim reflects what actually happened to the roof.
Ice dams build up at drains, scuppers, and parapet walls where meltwater refreezes faster than it can drain off the roof. Once a dam forms, subsequent melt backs up behind it and can migrate under membrane laps and flashing. We document dam locations, drain condition, and any interior signs of water intrusion tied to specific roof zones so the connection between the ice event and the resulting damage is clear.
Repeated freeze-thaw cycling is a slower, cumulative process rather than a single loss event, which makes it harder to document than a discrete storm. We look for cracking at seams and terminations, deteriorated sealant, and blistering that indicates trapped moisture cycling through freeze and thaw across a winter, and we distinguish that pattern from simple membrane age.
Heavy, wet snow accumulation adds significant weight to a low-slope roof, particularly where drifting concentrates snow against parapets or rooftop equipment. We look for signs of deck deflection, stressed fasteners, and membrane strain in these areas, especially on older built-up and gravel-ballasted roofs common on downtown and Short North buildings.
Winter-related repair scopes often include drain and scupper clearing or replacement, ice dam prevention measures, membrane and flashing repair at affected transitions, and, where freeze-thaw damage is widespread, a broader membrane assessment rather than isolated patching. We include the drainage fix along with the membrane repair, since patching membrane without correcting the drainage problem that caused the ice buildup tends to recur the following winter.
Questions
Many Ohio commercial property policies cover sudden water damage resulting from ice dams, subject to the policy's language on water damage and any exclusions for gradual deterioration. Because freeze-thaw damage develops over time rather than in a single event, documentation of the specific mechanism and timeline matters for how a claim is evaluated.
Freeze-thaw damage tends to concentrate at seams, terminations, and areas where moisture has a path into the membrane assembly, and it often correlates with a specific winter or a run of severe cold. A roof inspection that compares current condition against the roof's known age and prior inspection history helps separate storm- or season-specific damage from ordinary wear.
If there's active water intrusion, temporary measures to stop further damage — clearing drains, removing dangerous ice buildup — should happen as soon as it's safe, independent of the claim timeline. We can document the condition before any emergency work begins so the damage record isn't lost.
No. We're your roofing contractor, not a public adjuster — we inspect, document, and produce a repair scope for the drainage and membrane damage we find. Filing and negotiating the claim itself is handled by the owner, the carrier, and any public adjuster the owner has retained.
Share the building address, what you're seeing on the roof or inside the building, and when it started. We will schedule an inspection and document the drainage and membrane condition.
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