Repairs and Maintenance

Roofs in the northwest are under assault. Many factors will damage or limit a roof’s life. Extreme weather, constant moisture, tree debris, moss, salt in coastal areas, poor workmanship, wrong products for the situation, lack of maintenance, building use changes, ventilation problems, questionable substrates and improper remodeling practices all add potential problems we must inspect for and consider.

When it comes to roof problems and failures, the vast majority of sudden issues we see come from two sources: improper workmanship or a lack of maintenance.

Improper workmanship operates like a time bomb. The many factors of age, weather, product wear, tree debris, moss, roof design, roof slope and ventilation all play into a roof’s ability to perform. However, improper workmanship always creates leaks, it is just a matter of when. Roof performance relies on Lack of maintenance offers its own issues. Moss and tree debris form dams that hold water back in the roof assembly. Often, the fittings and sensitive areas on a roof get damaged from neglect. These issues lead to leakage and damage inside the home.

Many people are led to believe that tree debris and moss do two things: lift shingles and “eat” a roof from the inside out. This is a partial truth, in that moss will root-in and grab onto the granules of the roof. When moss is removed, it takes the surface of the roofing with it. But moss and rooftop growth does not eat shingles.

In fact, the greatest problem we see with moss and tree debris is the damming effect it has. The average roof shingle is 1 meter wide, leaving a joint between shingles every meter where the shingles are butted-up next to each other. When moss and/or tree debris line the bottom edge of the shingles and the vertical joint, we see water that would freely shed off the roof becomes dammed under the shingle. It then stays inside the roof assembly and tends to travel horizontally. What many clients do not understand is that your nails are often only ½” under the lip of the shingle, and only 4 or 5” from the joint between shingles. In other words, tree debris and moss re-route water in the roof, right to the nail holes in the shingles. That makes tree debris and moss the enemy of the roof.

Any abrasion on an asphalt roof lessens its life expectancy. In other words, cleaning can damage a roof. In fact, any cleaning likely damages a roof, but aggressive removal of moss and/or tree debris can radically harm the roof. So preventative maintenance is the best and most effective means of protecting your home and extending the life of your roof. There are conservative methods and approaches designed to protect and manage your roof as an asset.

Our Northwest environment has the highest percentage of cedar roofs in the United States. Cedar is beautiful, and it adds charm and value to a house. Cedar can last many years. However, many of the products that are touted to extend the life of cedar and beautify an aging cedar roof can damage the roof. This happens through uneven application of products such as oils, or application of more caustic additives that can dry out fittings and corrode flashings. When the contractor drives away, the house often looks beautiful. However, the real damage may be just beginning.

Many cedar repair and maintenance companies do not take the painstaking approach of managing cedar roofs the way they require. Power washing can thin the cedar shakes and shingles. The average shake is ½” at the bottom. But 20” high, at the top, the small part that is exposed to the sun may only be ¼” thick. That area wears though from sun and weather exposure. But if abrasive cleaning techniques are added, the life of the cedar may reduced very quickly. It is critical to hire professionals who understand the unique characteristics of this roof material.

In our Northwest environment, flat or commercial roofs have one of the toughest jobs in the exterior world. In the summer, flat roofs must resist heat and extreme UV exposure from the south. In the winter, they must keep the contents of the building dry from rain and the occasional wet snow, and they must also guard against condensation from the inside of the building due to our unique high humidity, low temperature fall, winter and spring seasons. Many flat roofs must also be able to contend with falling branches and tree debris.

Due to their high expense and high likelihood of problems, we recommend a close inspection for all of these factors at regular intervals. Manufacturers often require these inspections for their roof system warranty. Staying abreast of conditions on your flat roof through inspection and performing necessary repairs may save substantial headache and wallet-ache.

Tile roofs usually come with 50-year or greater life expectancies. However, due to our unique Northwestern weather conditions, we see leakage begin in less than 10 years of service life.

Generally speaking, most tile roofs were not designed for the Northwest climate. They are a single coverage product, meaning that they are only one layer thick on about 60% of the roof surface, while asphalt composition and cedar roofing is two-layers thick (or greater). When tile seams and joints become lined with blockage from tree debris and moss, water is naturally re-routed underneath the roofing. Most tile roofs have a paper-based felt paper that is the only thing keeping the house dry. This felt paper cannot handle long-term saturation with water. The result? Plywood damage and slow, leeching leakage that damages the roof structure.

Because of this reality, maintaining tile roofs carefully and consistently is key. These products have specialty coatings on them to protect them from soaking up water and from freezing, thawing and breaking. Often times, we see these coatings removed by aggressive cleaning, which also compromises the roof. Continued and diligent maintenance efforts are key to ensuring the maximum life expectancy of your tile roof.

Another unique handicap with tile roofing is the batten system. Battens are wood strips that the tiles hang on. Tile roof valleys often have battens that dam debris in the roof assembly. These, too, need attention and cleaning.

We repair and service all roofs. It is important to consider the two different repair approaches when we are discussing roof repairs.

There are generally two types of repair. “Temporary repairs” are repairs that do not involve complete correction of the problem. Unfortunately, most repairs in the roofing industry fall under this category. Roofers often think of repairs as a “patch.” This is a temporary perspective that does not consider a long-term objective. It is a “stop the problem now, worry about the long-term results later.”

“Permanent repairs” are when the entire problem is corrected so that the issue will get the maximal life of the roof covering. This is a quality approach. Permanent repairs require more expertise, time and effort, and often times involve a more complete approach to preparation and detail work.

Both repair approaches have their place. We recommend communication with your estimator to determine which approach they are proposing and which approach may be the best fit for you.