How To Answer Customer Questions About Grace ICE & WATER SHIELD®

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

GCP’s Grace ICE & WATER SHIELD® is designed to protect the home from wind-driven rain and ice dams, here are some talking points for recommending the product to homeowners.  

As extreme weather continues to become the new norm, construction and repairs need to bolster themselves to be able to withstand anything that Mother Nature throws at the roof. More and more homeowners are looking for waterproofing products that protect the home and avoid damage or need for repair. Let your customers know that be it rain, snow or ice, they can count on GCP’s Grace ICE & WATER SHIELD® self-adhered roofing underlayment to offer superior protection from water getting into the house. MoneyPit recently answered some frequently asked questions from homeowners about this product. Read on to learn more about how to recommend this product to homeowners and answer questions they may have.  

They ask: Why Grace ICE & WATER SHIELD®? 

You reply: The Grace ICE & WATER SHIELD® underlayment has defended homes against ice dams for over 40 years and remains a best-in-class self-adhered roof underlayment that provides premium leak protection. The lasting watertight bond created by Grace ICE & WATER SHIELD® lies in its specially-formulated layer of rubberized asphalt adhesive.   

Further, tell your clients that Grace ICE & WATER SHIELD® offers superior watertight laps, which serve a crucial function in keeping the roof dry.   

They ask: What is an ice dam and what dangers do they pose to the home?   

You reply: Ice dams occur when snow on your roof melts due to the warm air in the attic space or solar radiation. Water flows down the slope towards the roof eve where it refreezes over the unheated space. This dam traps water from falling off the roof, meaning that it can cause a leak into the building. Ice dams can not only damage the walls of a home, but coverings, gutters and other roof components. These repairs can be difficult and expensive. 

They ask: Won’t shingles and the felt underlayment prevent leaks?   

You reply: Nope. Shingles and felt are designed to shed water from the roof, but cannot prevent ice dam leaks. Ice dams trap the water that shingles shed off of the roof, and a felt underlayment can soak up this water leading to leaks. This is why a self-adhered roofing underlayment makes such a huge difference in protecting a roof from leaks, as they are the last line of defense between a home and water infiltration. Premium performance self-adhered underlayments, such as Grace ICE & WATER SHIELD®, seal around the fasteners used to attach shingles and other roof coverings, which helps prevent the water behind an ice dam from leaking into the house.  

They ask: Where should the self-adhered underlayment be installed?  

You reply: Most basic building code requirements mandate that a membrane should be applied along the eaves, in the valleys on the roof. However, it is recommended that you also protect potential trouble spots and apply underlayments where leaks have happened in the past. Grace ICE & WATER SHIELD’s Ripcord® split release on demand, allows for easy-to-install detailing that can protect the roofs most vulnerable areas, offering protection to leak-prone areas of the roof deck, such as valleys, chimneys and roof to wall transitions. 

They ask: What if I don’t live in a place where it snows? Do I still need to use self-adhered underlayments?   

You reply: Yes! Because even if you live in a warmer climate, the same areas of your roof are vulnerable to wind-driven rain. For example, hurricanes can cause shingle blow-offs, a roof covered with Grace ICE & WATER SHIELD® would avoid major damage.  

Conclusion 

Homes need to be built with materials that can handle all that is thrown their way. Give your customers peace of mind by installing Grace ICE & WATER SHIELD® self-adhered roofing underlayment on their roof to add another layer of protection against leaks.  

Learn more about GCP Applied Technologies in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit gcpat.com. 

Photo credit: MoneyPit