How the Rains of the Holiday Season Will Show You a Roof’s True Condition
Is a water stain making its way across your ceiling with the holidays upon us? Or have you seen green encroaching on your shingles in the wake of some good hard rain? If you are concerned your roof is not up to another damp winter in the Willamette Valley, rest assured there is no need to fret.
River Roofing has been putting our minds to ease for homeowners all over the Southern Willamette Valley since 1971. For some unvarnished truth about your roof, put in a call to (541) 782-7672.
Oregon’s holiday season is for good food and being with family, and plenty of rain as well. That rain will make short work of any vulnerability in a roof. Most do not give their roofing a thought for months at a time, only to be confronted with issues when they have company over. Knowing what to expect will put you in a position to nip trouble in the bud.
Hidden Problems the Winter Rains Bring to Light
For the better part of the year a roof can conceal minor defects. A loose bit of flashing or a shingle with a crack in it will go unnoticed in the dry of summer. Then comes the heavy rain and the water pressure forces its way through.
What accounts for the leaks that show up during the holidays:
- Prolonged rainfall puts seals and flashing to the test in a manner dry weather does not
- An overflow from clogged gutters drives water under the shingles
- Moisture is allowed to penetrate older shingles that have shed their granules
- The grip of the flashing on chimneys and vents gives way
- Freezing temperatures and ice serve to open up cracks
- On a flat or low-slope roof, pooling water makes its way in
And once in, water is apt to travel. The stain you see on the ceiling is rarely where the leak has its origin, which is the reason an inspection by a pro is called for in the wet months.
Moss in the Willamette Valley
The climate here is moist and conducive to moss, which is fine for the landscape but not for your roof. It is more than an eyesore; it inflicts damage. Moss will not let moisture run off your shingles but holds it there to eat away at the material. Its growth can also separate and lift shingles so the rain can get below them.
Left to its own devices, moss will:
- Expose the layers beneath by lifting the edge of a shingle
- Hasten rot by holding in moisture
- Fill your downspouts and gutters with debris
- Make the roof surface hazardous
- Cut down on how long your roof should last
A spot of moss you put off in September can be something of a headache by December when the rains set in.
Things to be on the lookout for
There is no call to get up on the roof to find out what is going on; one can tell from the ground or from within. Keep an eye out for:
- Staining on a wall or ceiling
- Mustiness in the attic
- Any dark streaks or green on the roof
- Shingle granules in the gutter
- Shingles that are cracked, missing or curled
- Dripping when the rain is coming down hard
If you see such things, have someone come out and look at it before the problem gets any bigger. What is a small fix today may mean you do not have to replace the whole thing down the road.
The River Roofing difference
We have put roofs on homes and businesses in the Southern Willamette Valley for a long time, since 1971 to be exact. We have put in upwards of 45,000 of them in Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Veneta, Vida, Pleasant Hill, Creswell, Lowell, Junction City and the communities around them.
Our standing with the Better Business Bureau is an A+ rating and we are accredited. We are one of Lane County’s largest roofing firms with a staff of 45 plus, and we have been named Northwest Region Contractor of the Year and made the RSI Magazine Top 100 list. We are licensed and insured and take pride in our local giving back.
From new construction to repair and replacement, we do residential and commercial, metal or asphalt. There is no harm in asking for a free estimate.
Make a small leak of yours the least of your holiday worries. Monday to Friday between 7:30 and 4 we are on hand to inspect your roof and offer you some honest answers. Give us a ring at (541) 782-7672 and face the winter without a care.
