Is Your Roof Strong Enough For Wind Damage?
The Bay Area, including Marin County, received more than its share of high wind advisories of late. That has homeowners wondering if their roofs are strong enough to withstand all that wind.
What Factors Should You Take Into Consideration?
Age, maintenance and geographic conditions have a direct impact on the sustainability of your roof.
- How old is your roof? The most popular roofing material used on residential dwellings is asphalt shingles. They are popular for a multitude of reasons, like affordability, weight, great choice of shingle styles/colors and they promise a long life-expectancy. But like any other life-expectancy chart, other conditions can play into an increase or decrease in their actual lifespan. In the best of conditions, you might get thirty years out of a shingle roof, 25 is more likely. Your roof’s ability to withstand a blustery windstorm will be stronger in the years right after it is installed and less strong as it reaches between the ages of 25 and 30.
- How often do you have your roof cleared of debris? If you live in an area that has lush vegetation or lots of trees, you might find quite a bit landing and gathering on your roof. How often do you have your roof inspected? No matter what material your roof is covered with, periodic inspections can help you identify potential trouble spots. Tile and slate roofs are meant to last many decades, but a tile or a section of slate can become damaged by falling debris that you would not be able to observe from the ground. Keeping your roof free of leaves and tree branches can prevent leaks and/or mold buildup. Keeping tree branches from growing too close to your roof is a good preventative measure.
- Geographic conditions. Marin and the surrounding counites of Sonoma, Napa and even San Francisco have their own individual pockets of miniclimate conditions. Parts of San Rafael and Novato receive a great deal more sunshine and heat, than the coastal areas of Marin. Roofs in those cities may suffer more readily from sun damage, causing shingles to crack and curl. Those damaged shingles are more likely to be torn off in a storm.
Severe Weather Is Coming
With severe weather becoming more common each year, you may want to do a review of how your roof fairs on the basics. If you have concerns, you can always have a roofer come to your home to do an inspection. That is often far safer than climbing up on your own roof, especially if it has a significant slope to it.
Don’t forget to check your gutters, too. It is not uncommon for them to fill up with leaves and other debris. That can keep the rain from draining properly during a storm and a water backup can cause pooling on your roof, which in turn could weaken shingles and leak.
Call our Marin office: 415-924-2733, or call our Sonoma office: 707-586-2656, if you have more questions than answers when it comes to your particular roof’s ability to stand up the gale-force winds and keep your home safe. One of our professional roofers will be happy to answer your questions.