Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 11, November 2003

Copyright 2003 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article below in your research. Be sure to cite the Seattle Sun as your source.

AROUND THE HOME:

November rains may cause roofing pains

By MATT MAURY

After our record dry summer, the rain is back! With it comes the possibility of leaky roofs. The sun beating down on a roof each day causes it to become more brittle and crack. The one fear of every homeowner is that this just might be the year that the home needs a new roof. Before rushing from fixing a leak to putting on a new roof, homeowners should take time to understand both proper roof maintenance and the right times and reasons for re-roofing.

As a starting point, a homeowner should know the type of roofing material that is on the house and the length of time since it was installed. The five primary types of roofing are: wood (either shakes or shingles), composition (fiberglass or asphalt shingles), hot tar (with various coatings, like gravel or aluminum), tile are metal (sheet or shingle.) Also, it is important to know the type of gutters and downspouts built-in gutters or wood or metal. In securing a professional roofer to fix a leak, it is essential that the homeowner find a contractor that specializes in repairing the type of roofing on the house.

Sometimes a leak appears to be in the roof, but may be coming from another source. If the water is coming into the home near a chimney, the problem may be in the flashing or in the chimney itself. Often, as a house settles, cracks are formed in the chimney allowing water to run down onto a ceiling. Each time there is an earthquake in the Puget Sound region, there is the potential of chimney damage. When this is the case, a mason will be needed for chimney repairs, rather than a roofer.

A similar situation is when a leak is near a skylight. Frequently the problem is with the window rather than in the roof. Doing some detective work to determine the source of the water's penetration will assure a call to the right contractor roofer or window installer.

Before calling any contractor, it's wise to check the roof to make sure the leak is not being caused by poor maintenance. Make sure that all needles, twigs, leaves and branches are off the roof and out of the gutters. Any blockage can be the cause of a leak. The best way to clean debris from a roof is by hand. Avoid power washing, which can puncture most roofing materials and will void any manufacturers' warranties. Gutters must be cleaned regularly several times during the fall if there are deciduous trees nearby. Downspouts should be checked to assure that there are no blockages. If there are, a rooter service can get them flowing properly again.

If there is a roof leak that needs to be repaired, find a contractor who has been in business for more than one season to stop the leak. Don't agree to any major work without a second opinion. Always get proposals in writing and review them with someone of trust. Check with the roofing material supplier to assure the financial stability of the contractor. The roofer needs to be in business next year to be able to provide any warranty work that might be needed. Remember that anyone can do a poorer job for less money. As with any major investment, take time to make a wise decision.