Know your roof before the next wind and rainstorm arrives

Keeping water moving and addressing small issues early can extend a roof’s lifespan.

If you’ve been in roofing in Western Washington long enough, you know our weather likes to keep us on our toes. We don't necessarily deal with the extreme conditions other parts of the country see, but we do deal with a lot of water. Add wind, falling branches, clogged drains, freezing temperatures and the occasional snowstorm, and our roofs still take a beating.

The biggest thing we tell people is this: the storm usually isn't where the problem started. A loose piece of flashing, an aging sealant joint, debris collecting around a drain or a few damaged shingles might not cause an active leak today. But add one of our Pacific Northwest wind and rainstorms, and suddenly you have a problem. That's why I'm such a big believer in preventative maintenance.

In Western Washington, keeping water moving is huge. Gutters, downspouts, drains and scuppers need to be clear and functioning properly. On commercial roofs especially, leaves, pine needles and debris can build up quickly. When the heavy rain comes, you don't want to find out your drainage system isn't doing its job.

Wind is another big one. Perimeter flashing, shingles, rooftop equipment and previous repair areas should all be checked before storm season. Trees around the building matter too. We've seen plenty of roofing damage that didn't technically come from the weather, it came from the branch the weather put through the roof.

Then we get our occasional snow and freezing temperatures. Western Washington isn't always prepared for snow because we don't see significant accumulation every winter. But when we do, roofs have to handle the additional weight, and drainage needs to work when everything starts melting.

The best preparation is pretty simple: know your roof before the weather tests it. Have it inspected. Keep up with maintenance. Know its age and repair history. If you have a manufacturer-warranted commercial roof, understand your maintenance requirements and document those inspections. And after a major weather event, have someone take another look.

You can't prevent every leak or predict what Mother Nature is going to throw at us. That's roofing. But you can know the condition of your roof and have a relationship with a roofing contractor you trust before you need one. Because finding a roofer during the first big wind and rainstorm of the season is a lot harder than already having their number before it starts.