In the Pacific Northwest, and especially along the Columbia River Gorge, we can experience all kinds of weather conditions throughout the year. High winds, snow, torrential rains, ice, extreme heat, and sometimes a combination of two or three of those conditions in a single hour.
While you should get your roof inspection completed at least once a year, we recommend an overview twice a year. Once at the end of fall and again in the spring. Consider the fall inspection as a preventative measure before the bad weather hits, and the spring inspection as a way to see if any damage occurred.
Fall Roofing Inspections
An inspection now is much like installing storm shutters, hose bib covers, and other winterizing measures. Having a roofing inspector look around the home now could prevent issues during the wet, stormy, and cold months ahead. In some cases, you may be able to spot issues on your own.
After all of the leaves have fallen, make sure to clean out those gutters! If any part of the roofing system is failing, it could jeopardize the entire roof. If the water can’t escape the gutters because of too much debris, it will just pool. When it freezes, it will expand, potentially causing edge shingles to be pushed up.
As the ice melts, and then the standing water refreezes, this damage will work it’s way up to your roof. Water then gets under the underlayment, decking, and potentially into your home. Full gutters also mean water will overflow and fall near your foundation, where the same freeze/thaw cycle could imperil it.
We understand no one likes cleaning gutters. But a messy weekend job is better than a few thousand dollars (or more!) of repair. It’s also a good time to discover if any shingle, flashing, or other issues need to be addressed before the wet weather starts in earnest. Buttoning up the roof now saves money on repairs in a few months.
Spring Roofing Inspections
Where fall was the time to prevent any further damage to your home, spring is the time to see if any new damage happened during the tough winter months. You may have noticed water stains appearing on your ceiling or walls. That’s a clear indication of a roof leak (or faulty plumbing).
The roof damage could include a misplaced chimney cap, broken or missing shingles, or damaged venting pipes. When that happens, call a professional roof repairman for inspection, no matter the season. Because the issue with roofing problems is that they don’t appear overnight.
It takes time for the rain to find its way to the interior of the home. Once you see that familiar “coffee stain” on your ceiling or wall, the damage has already been done. That’s why hiring a roofing contractor to check the condition of your roof in the fall is so important.
When you see those water stains – or if an accumulation of snow or ice causes a large tree branch to fall on your home, contact Warner Roofing as soon as possible. We’ve been performing roof repairs in the Clark County area since 1992 and are much too familiar with the problems caused by our weather.
That’s why roofing inspections are so important. Obvious issues can be spotted a mile away. It’s the little things (missing caulk, slightly raised nails, chipped tiles) that may not be noticeable by the untrained eye but need to be taken care of. Warner Roofing knows what to look for – and how to repair what we find.
With Spring in full swing, contact Warner Roofing and find out how your roof survived the Winter. Then enjoy your summer with all of the outdoor activities the Pacific Northwest has to offer. We’ll be here for you when the leaves start falling as well.
