Homeowners rush to repair hail damage
Work to solve storm setbacks before snowBy LINDSEY MUTCHLER Messenger staff writer
Fact Box
Shingling over old layers doesn't make sense
By BARBARA
WALLACE HUGHES
Messenger
managing editor
Old building practices sometimes lacked logic.
For example, it used to be common practice to put new layers of shingles over existing layers of shingles. But it doesn't make sense, said Bill McAnally, chairman of industrial technology at Iowa Central Community College.
As a result of an August hailstorm that cut through parts of rural Webster County, a whole crop of new roofs sprouted along the storm's path. Reportedly, some insurance companies paid for only one layer of shingle tear-off - meaning that homeowners were stuck with paying out of pocket if they had additional layers that needed to be removed, or if they chose not to pay, new shingles would be laid on top of those layers.
"Back in the past," McAnally said, "we would go up to where you could put a third layer on, and once you'd gone three layers, you had to go back and start all over again. You can imagine how much weight was on the house."
"If you got 10, 12 years out of shingles that were sitting on two existing layers, you were lucky," he said, "because when you're putting the shingles on, you're walking over the old shingles. If there are any nails in the old shingles, they would project up and tear the new shingles. It just didn't work."
Many manufacturers today don't allow their product to be installed over existing shingles, saying the practice voids their warranty, McAnally said.
In Iowa, he said, it's not a matter of if, but when, hail damage is going to occur, and multiple layers of shingles leave roofs more susceptible to damage because the new shingles aren't attached to a solid base.
The state building codes require the removal of all layers of shingles before a new layer is applied. However, whether or not Webster County homeowners have to comply with state building codes depends on where they live. In Fort Dodge, the code has been adopted, but it's not the law countywide.
"But remember," McAnally said, "a building code is the absolute minimum you can build by law. There's no logical reason to put new shingles over old."
Contact Barbara Wallace Hughes at (515) 573-2141 or bwh@messengernews.net
CALLENDER - Walking into the home of Gene and Grace Bilstad, the smell of new paint and carpet are fresh.
One might guess the Bildstads were remodeling for fun, but the remodel on the 30-year-old house was of necessity.
The Bilstads were one of many affected by the Aug. 9 hailstorm that ripped through six Iowa counties including Calhoun and Webster.
The couple were at church that morning and came home to find all the windows on the west side of their house blown out, and shards of glass and hail littered the floor.
"Those great big windows left a lot of glass." Grace Bilstad said.
With the help of family, the Bilstads patched the windows with plywood and cleaned up the best they could.
"We wore shoes in the house all the time," Grace Bilstad said, "because of the glass. I'd clean the carpets and glass would still work it's way up."
Three weeks prior to the storm, the Bilstads put a new roof on their house. The hail damaged that as well, and repairs will be made this fall, Gene Bilstad said.
The silver lining, however, is the contractor who replaced the Bilstads' roof arrived that same day with lumber and employees in tow to replace the siding on the west side of the house.
"The same guy who put the roof on our house, came out that Sunday and replaced our siding," Gene Bilstad said. "We stained it afterwards, but it was incredible how quickly he was able to help us."
Similarly, the Bilstads were able to order their windows the day after the storm. They were installed last week.
"We put in six new windows, new carpet and painted the whole inside of the house," Gene Bilstad said. "They just finished laying the carpet Tuesday."
Before all the work was finished the Bilstads only used half of the six rooms in their house and only one of the two bathrooms. That lasted for nearly two months.
"The winds blew the hail through the bedroom, main room and bathroom," Gene Bilstad said. "The hail and glass was piled up against the east wall of the house."
Thankfully, the glass didn't make it to the mattress pad on their bed, but all of the bedding had to go.
Besides the beating their house took, the Bilstad's also lost 285 acres of crops.
"We've got insurance," Gene Bilstad said, "and it helps, but it's still a loss."
Despite all this, the Bilstad's are thankful for the speedy repairs and help of family.
"It could've been a lot worse," Bilstad said. "A tornado could've taken the house."
Other families are dealing with similar situations. Some still have plywood on their windows. Pock-marks dot the siding on others' houses.
Scott Engquist of Engquist Lumber in Harcourt said his business is supplying some homeowners with building materials to make repairs.
"Right after it happened people came in for plywood for the windows," Engquist said. "We've had a steady flow of business since.
"Some homeowners only sustained cosmetic damage and are waiting until next spring to make repairs. Others were hit harder and are doing a lot of work this fall."
The Bilstads are thankful their home is ready for winter with windows firmly in place and glass-free carpet.
"Our son and daughter (Tom and Jennifer Bilstad) were so helpful," Grace Bilstad said. "Now we just need to choose drapes and furniture."
Contact Lindsey Mutchler at (515) 573-2141 or lindsey@messengernews.net
