The call came in on a Tuesday in February at 7:40 AM. A homeowner in Oshawa had woken up to water dripping from the ceiling in two rooms. The overnight ice storm had pulled a section of ridge cap off the peak and cracked shingles along the hip. The roof was open to the sky and it was still sleeting.
We were on site by 10:30. Here's what an emergency response actually involves.
Hour one: assessment
You can't fix a roof in an ice storm. The surface is glazed, the temperature was -12°C, and the wind was gusting to 50 km/h. The goal of an emergency call isn't repair — it's stopping the water from getting in until conditions allow a proper fix.
We assessed from the ground and the attic. The ridge section had lifted as a single piece — about 4 linear feet of ridge cap and the ridge vent underneath. The ice had formed under the cap, expanded, and levered the whole assembly off the nails. Along the hip, we could see 6–8 cracked shingles where ice had wedged under the edges.
The attic showed active water entry at the ridge and two spots along the hip. Insulation was saturated in about a 10-foot area.
Hour two: tarping
We used a 20×30 heavy-duty poly tarp, secured with 2×4 battens screwed through the tarp and into the roof decking. On an ice-covered roof, you can't nail — the surface is too slick to kneel on and the shingles are brittle in cold. Screws into battens give you a mechanical hold that won't pull through.
The tarp extended 3 feet past the damaged area on all sides. We weighted the edges and ran a second line of battens at the eave. Total tarping time was about 90 minutes, working from ladders and the attic access. Nobody walked on the roof surface.
The wait
The tarp held for 3 days while the weather cleared. Ice storms in the GTA are usually followed by a temperature swing — this one went from -12°C to +4°C within 48 hours. That thaw is actually useful: it clears the ice from the roof surface so we can work safely.
Day four: permanent repair
Once the ice was clear, we stripped the damaged area. The ridge vent and cap needed full replacement across the affected section. Along the hip, we replaced 30+ cracked shingles and re-sealed the hip cap. We inspected every shingle within 6 feet of the damage for hairline cracks — ice damage often extends further than it looks.
Total repair time was about 4 hours.
What homeowners should know about ice storms
Don't go on your roof. After every ice storm, we see homeowners on ladders trying to clear ice or throw tarps. An ice-covered steep roof is the most dangerous surface you can stand on. Call a roofer.
A tarp is not a permanent fix. It's buying time. We've seen tarps left on for months — they degrade in UV, the battens loosen, and the roof underneath continues to deteriorate. Get the repair done as soon as weather allows.
Check your insurance. Most Ontario homeowners' policies cover sudden storm damage. The tarp, the repair, and the interior water damage are typically claimable. Document everything with photos before cleanup — we photograph every emergency job for exactly this reason.
Ridge damage is common in ice storms. The ridge is the most exposed part of your roof. Ice forms under cap shingles, expands, and pries them up. If your ridge cap shingles are curling or the ridge vent looks lifted, get it inspected before winter. A $200 ridge re-seal in October prevents a $1,500 emergency call in February.