ROOFING IN THE SIERRAS… A YEAR OF EXTREMES

The 2022-23 weather conditions have been jaw dropping to say the least. Drought conditions prevailed through the fall with massive fires spurned by intense heat and high winds. Century storms this winter have produced monster weather events more severe than those in 2018. The style of these storms – more unique in nature – snow, rain, snow, rain patterns have created layers of ice followed by feet of snow on every structure in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Structural integrity has been challenged and preexisting roofing conditions (ventilation, deteriorated roofing and even slope) have contributed to damages. Homeowners en masse are searching and re-evaluating their choices for roofing materials to best help protect them in these revolving, severe conditions.

Given all of the weather extremes this past year, the one commonality is that the roof of a home bears the brunt of them. Experts from the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) remind homeowners that it is their roof — above all else — that must be relied upon to protect a home from even more costly and serious damage during extreme weather.

It stands to reason that many industry experts believe metal roofing is the gold standard to guard against severe weather events. Benefits such as fire protection, durability, strength and energy efficiency seriously outperform more traditional offerings and are a much better investment for new construction and re-roofing. And when it comes to styles, architects, builders and homeowners alike are finding that no matter what the style of the home, there is a metal roof that will look amazing and perform better.

There are no greater teachers than hindsight and experience. Preparation is the key to success. Talking to a metal roofing expert about your experience or desires and the options available to you can be one of the most significant conversations you have this year. Their experience can be the difference in a positive project outcome. When the spring thaw is complete, take the following steps to better your chances for timely roof resolutions:

1. Take stock of any roof damages incurred during the last year. Do this by consulting onsite with a roofing expert or by doing a visual, ground walk around your home using binoculars and your phone to document what you see. Completing these steps will save time should you need to do an insurance claim.

2. If your roof is aged and needs replacement, contact a roofing expert as soon as possible. It is going to be an extremely busy year with no guarantees so get on their list early. Make sure you are satisfied with the options available and are not funneled into one convenient product. Now is the time to consider strong, durable, lifetime options to protect your home.

3. Do the maintenance! If your roof came out alright, do the maintenance required to keep it sound – clean any debris off the roof (in valleys, off eaves, in gutters); check flashings at pipes, chimneys or roof to wall locations; replace any siding that has degraded on chimneys or side walls; and reseal pipe flashings as caulking has a shelf life of performance.

True Green Roofing Solutions is your local authority on roofing with a dedication to metals and sustainable materials. Contact them at 775.225.1590 or info@ truegreenroofing.com. They have an extensive library of articles on their blog: www.TrueGreenRoofing.com/news.