Keeping a roof over your head isn’t just about paying a mortgage or rent on time—it’s also about making sure that the roof does its job of protection. As with any part of your home, your roof can use a little TLC from time to time. What type of damage should you be on the lookout for? Read on to find out more about the five most common Portland roof repairs.
1. Water Damage and Leaks
Leaks and water damage are perhaps the most common roof issues. They can pop up near flashing, gutters, skylights, chimneys, vents, and pipes. The materials on your roof, such as tiles and shingles, are meant to protect your home from leaks. However, while strong, these can be damaged and cracked over time.
Signs of leaks include discoloration and spots on the ceiling, as well as damp walls. In many cases, the damage and visible spots aren’t noticeable right away. Usually, by the time a spot appears, the leak has been seeping in for a long time. In any case, a professional contractor will be able to find the issue causing leaks and then repair it.
Since most water damage isn’t noticeable until some damage is done, it’s a good idea to get your roof regular maintenance and inspection. Doing so can prevent excessive Portland roof repairs.
2. Gutter Repair
Another water-related roof damage is known as a pool or stagnant water. This is usually caused by clogged gutters. Common Portland roof repairs include installing, unclogging, cleaning, maintaining, and replacing gutters.
When water is on your roof too long, it can damage the materials. For instance, excessive moisture can brew mold and mildew. This is an especially common problem for homes with a flat – a low-slope roof. Some roof repairs may include drainage specified for the roof’s lack of slope.
If your gutters keep getting clogged, you may need to replace them. Here at Interstate Roofing, gutter maintenance, repair, and installation are among our many services. We also offer different types of sizes of gutters. Finding and installing the right one for your home could prevent many future repairs.
3. Hail Damage
You might need to get your Portland roof repaired after the area goes through some hail storms. Because of hail’s harsh and fast nature, even one storm can seriously damage your shingles.
It may not be immediate or obvious damage. The aftermath of a hail storm can also cause loss of granules or other deterioration, which leaves your roof’s shingles more vulnerable. For instance, they may not be able to ward off UV rays as well as they could pre-storm.
Regardless, hail damage is one of the most common Portland roof repairs. Turn to an experienced roofing company for help, and they’ll provide repairs to make it good as new. Other harsh weather conditions that lead to roof repairs are snow and ice.
4. Portland Roof Vents and Flashing Repairs
The flashing of your Portland roof is needed for protection. Usually made of metal or plastic, flashing protects your roof, skylights, windows, chimneys, and venting pipes. Damage to flashing can therefore lead to more damage to your roof, which can in turn cause problems for your whole house.
A Portland roof repair service will determine if the flashing can be fixed. Or, if it needs to be replaced, they’ll be able to install new flashing. For instance, the culprit can be that the existing flashing was improperly installed. Sometimes, this installation entails removing some other roofing materials. But an experienced contractor will be able to do that carefully and then repair it so the roof is good as new.
Like flashing, roof vents are usually made of plastic. If the Portland area experiences some harsh weather and inconsistent temperatures, this material may not be able to hold up. Likewise, the vents may have been installed using roofing concrete. That can protect you from leaks for a bit, but it can crack over time.
5. Shingle or Tile Repair and Replacement
Shingles and/or tiles can be damaged, broken, cracked, worn down, and so forth over time. There are many reasons why, some of which are unavoidable or unnoticeable. Some types of damage include:
- Falling trees or branches
- Excessive wind damage, which can cause breakage and is especially bad for older shingles
- Excessive heat and/or overexposure to sunlight causing shingles to blister
- Inconsistent temperatures/weather conditions splitting shingles
- Blistered or split shingles can get lifted, which lets more water in
In addition to damage caused by nature, shingles and tile can also experience wear and tear as more time passes. To start, shingles can lose their granules over the years, which makes them weaker, more exposed, and more vulnerable.
Another very common shingles problem is shrinkage from age and weathering.
The number of shingles that are significantly damaged can vary wildly. In some cases, the only Portland roof repair needed is replacing a couple of individual shingles. Paying attention to your roof as well as getting regular inspections can help reduce the extent of shingle repair.
Finally, while it may be tempting to try to repair your roof on your own, turning to the professionals is a much better move. You could put yourself in danger and might not do a sufficient repair job.
Talk to Interstate Roofing
Whatever Portland roof repairs you need, turn to us at Interstate Roofing. Our experienced contractors can tackle any damage, big or small. We also perform cleaning and maintenance. This service can help you avoid costly roof repairs in the future. In addition to serving Portland, we also provide roof repairs, installations, and maintenance in the Vancouver, WA, area. Have a roofing emergency? You can contact us 24/7.
You can find more information, including customer reviews and testimonials, on our website. You’ll find all the services and products we provide. Want a general idea of potential costs? Take to our site and request a free estimate. You can also browse through some examples of our previous work. We look forward to keeping your roof the best it can be.