Wind and storm roof repair for Gresham homes, OR 97030

In the older parts of Gresham, many homes still carry 3-tab shingles from a replacement done twenty or more years ago. Those shingles are thin and flat, and once the adhesive strip dries out, wind gets under them easily. Some ranch homes also have cedar shake roofs that have curled and split, and a few have composite laid right over the old shakes, which leaves a wavy surface that never seals well. On these houses a tear-off and new architectural shingles usually costs less over time than chasing repairs every winter.

The newer hillside subdivisions on the south side bring a different set of issues. Roofs are steeper and more cut up, with more valleys, hips and dormers. Each of those joints is a place where water collects and where a short nail or missing sealant shows up first. We also find bathroom fans and dryer vents that end in the attic instead of outside, which leaves moisture to soak into the decking.

Cold air pours out of the Columbia River Gorge in fall and winter, and Gresham is close enough to catch strong gusts. The wind usually comes from the east, so the east-facing slopes and the edges of the roof take the worst of it. Shingle tabs fold back and crease, ridge caps peel loose, and fir limbs drop onto roofs and gutters. When temperatures hover near the line between rain and ice, a glaze can build on trees and power lines, and the weight brings branches down. After that kind of event we see punctures, cracked decking and crushed gutters more than simple leaks.

After a storm we cover open spots first, then come back to fix them properly once the weather clears. If wind or a falling limb did the damage, we photograph each problem and measure it so you have clear records for a homeowner's insurance claim. For full replacements we nail to the shingle maker's high-wind pattern and pay extra attention to starter strips at the eaves and rakes. We check Gresham permit rules before work begins and pull permits where they are required.