The winter months can bring over six inches of rainfall per month in Portland, Oregon.  With the rainfall also comes snow and ice, which wreak havoc on Portland roofs.  Portland roofing contractors find themselves fixing endless leaks and water damaged roofs during the coldest months.  If it is already wet and cold outside, there is no reason to risk that discomfort in your home or building.  A few time and money saving tips will prepare your roof for Portland’s rainiest times.

A qualified Portland roofer will be able to address all of the following inspection points, however, if these remedies are to be preformed by a homeowner, special care and attention must be made to avoid a fall from a high, steep roof.  A homeowner can be seriously injured, or even killed if a fall occurs from a highly pitched, wet, icy, or tall Portland roof.  Make sure the ladder being used is very sturdy and equipped to handle the task at hand.  Be sure to take care to not damage roof tiles, shingles, vents, or other Portland roof components.  Whenever a problem or question arises, find a qualified professional roofing contractor to address your roofing issues.

The proper function of a Portland roof and all of the systems and components of a building’s roof is vital to prevent water damage to a home or structure.  Each element of a roof must be free of wear, deterioration, damage, and debris build-up to keep a building warm and dry.  This protection starts with the roof decking and continues to all other roof elements including venting, flashing, underlayment, tiles, shingles, gutters, drain pipes, and even the nails used to fasten each component of the Portland roof.

Where To Begin Inspecting A Portland Roof:

Starting at the ground of a Portland home or roofed structure, a qualified Portland roofer or homeowner should scrutinize the roofline for cracks, bulges, tears, and any missing vents or tile.  One should make an effort to walk the entire property and become familiar with which side faces south, north, and west.  The north-facing side of a Portland roof will remain the coolest, often having little or no sun exposure during winter months.  The south side of a Portland roof is exposed to the most sunlight and has a higher chance of UV damage.  The west side will also see direct sun light, but not as much as the south-facing side.  Lastly, look for accumulated pools of water and if there are any leaves or other debris from trees accumulating on the Portland roof.

The Key Portland Roof Components:

Tiles and Shingles — In order to be ready for the winter season in Portland, it is important that your roof have no torn, decaying, or damaged tiles or shingles.  A Portland roof is at risk for water damage with the presence of any torn or damaged shingles, as well as cracked or missing tiles.  All curled, bare, broken, clawed, and buckled shingles must be replaced for a Portland roof to function properly to shed rain and moisture.  With any damage to a shingled roof, it is only a matter of time before a costly problem arises.  Cracked or missing tiles must also be repaired or replaced to prepare for the Portland winter season.  Deterioration of shingles causes countless leaks and results in the majority of water damage because the shingle’s waterproofing effectiveness is hindered.  Deterioration to roof shingles never gets better on its own.  This wear will continue to worsen until the roof system is unable to protect from rain and moisture.  A qualified Portland roofer will look for all signs of wear and decay to all components of a structure’s roof system.

Nails and Fasteners — It is simple to overlook, but nails and fasteners are crucial to a Portland roof’s effectiveness to keeping water and moisture at bay.  If nails are missing from tiles or coming loose from any roof component, they must be properly restored to keep a Portland roof waterproofed and functioning well throughout the cold, wet winter season. A qualified Portland roofer will inspect the nails and fasteners to keep a roof performing its water shedding duty.

Roof Flashing — Flashing is used to waterproof open areas of a Portland roof.  All chimneys, skylights, vents, and pipes have metal flashing around the roof intrusion to prevent water from entering the home or building.  If flashing is missing, torn, or bent, it must be replaced or repaired to keep a Portland roof functioning.  The flashing must be inspected to ensure that Portland roof remains waterproof.

Gutters and Drain Downspouts — All gutters and drain downspouts must be properly attached to a structure and completely free from debris or blockage.  If a gutter or downspout is loose from a Portland home or building it can lead to a leak or other forms of costly water damage.  If there are any blocks to the free flowing of water from a Portland roof, a major water damage issue can occur.  If water cannot drain from and be shed from the roof, it is only a matter of time before pooled water will find its way into a home or building.  A qualified Portland roofer will inspect and fix clogs and loose gutters, and will ensure that all the elements of a home or building’s roof drain system is functioning properly.

Silicone and Caulking — It is easy to miss, however, a simple and easy touch-up of a roof’s silicone or caulking will help keep a Portland roof functioning through the winter season.  Attention to small detail is key here when making certain that all caulking or silicone around the roof is free from cracks and rot.  Replacing a few small sections of silicone or caulking could make a huge impact on preventing a leak from occurring.  A qualified Portland roofer will take the time and effort to properly apply silicone or caulking to a roof.

Quality Roofing Materials — Whether a problem is being remedied or routine maintenance is being performed, it is essential that quality and dependable roofing materials be used without overcharging the homeowner.  A qualified Portland roofer should take your budget into account and guarantee that the roof is working properly by using reliable materials and providing top-quality workmanship.

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 18th, 2009 at 12:03 pm and is filed under News and Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.