Roof Repair Pacific City Oregon Leaks, Wind Damage, Moss

7 days ago

7 min read

Pacific City is a wonderful place to live, despite the weather. That weather wreaks havoc on roofs with high winds, long periods of rain, damp mornings, tree debris, and moss. Some homeowners have more open exposure while others are in the shadow of the trees, but it is common for most Pacific City roofs to be exposed to a significant amount of moisture.

That often leads to roof issues.

We are Hardesty Roof Replacement, and we have been repairing, replacing, and

installing roofs throughout the Oregon Coast for over twenty years. We offer roofing services in Pacific City that include roofing repair and replacement, residential and commercial roofing, and emergency roof service.

After spending a long time on Pacific City roofs, we've noticed a few of the same issues

crop up again and again.

Here are some of the problems we see most often.

Wind Damage Not Always Obvious

When people think of wind damage, they imagine a roof with missing shingles.

That's certainly one way it can happen, but sometimes it's not readily apparent.

Strong gusts of wind can peel the edges of a shingle up, separate it from the adhesive

underneath, and then drop it back down on the roof. It looks fine when we're on the

ground inspecting the roof, but the separation allows water to get underneath during the

next storm.

We always take a close look at ridge caps, roof edges, vents, and flashing, since those

are common sites for wind damage.

If the home is staying dry during the occasional Pacific Northwest rainstorm but leaking

badly when the wind picks up, our wind driven rain roof leak guide can help explain what

could be happening.

If the roof is already leaking, check out our Emergency Roofing Services.

Moss Is Common In Pacific City

Moss growing on a roof is common in Pacific City, so much so that no one really thinks

about it.

Unless it's been growing unchecked for a while.

Moss on the roof isn't necessarily damaging but heavy growth can trap moisture and

debris against the roof.

According to Oregon State University Extension Service, moss growing on asphalt

shingles can trap soil and debris, retaining moisture and causing the shingles to lift. You

can find more details in their roof moss guidance.

We always recommend treating moss before it becomes a thick, established growth.

Our Oregon Coast roof moss guide has more information on moss removal and

prevention.

One of the most common mistakes we see is using high pressure to clean an asphalt

roof.

High pressure cleaning damages asphalt shingles, shortening the life of the roof. OSU

Extension Service covers this topic in their how to remove roof moss guide.

Often It's the Flashing That Causes the Leak

A leaky roof doesn't always mean the shingles are to blame.

One of the most common places for roof leaks to start is at a transition on the roof, where

it meets another structure like a chimney, at a skylight, plumbing vent, wall, or another

roof plane.

These transitions are protected by flashing, which directs water away from the

intersection back onto the roof surface.

A minor fault in the flashing might not cause any issues during a light rainfall, but once a

stronger Pacific Northwest storm rolls through, water sneaks in wherever it can find an

opening.

That's why we don't always recommend replacing a roofing material when we find a

ceiling stain near a chimney or similar transition.

Sometimes the solution is a flashing repair.

Our roof flashing problems guide has more information on roof flashing issues.

Tree Debris Leads to Drainage Issues

Pacific City is home to many trees, which means there is quite a bit of tree debris on local

roofs with valleys and gutters to collect it.

While the occasional needle or leaf falling from the trees won't hurt the roof, it doesn't

take many branches or large amounts of moss to clog a valley or roof drain.

Clogged valleys and drains restrict the flow of water off the roof, causing gutters to

overflow. Water running over the edge of the gutter flows back against the fascia,

soaking it and causing fascia rot.

Fascia rot leads to additional issues; when the fascia is rotten, water can get behind the

fascia and soak into the soffit and decking.

We've seen more than one set of roof edges, fascia, and soffits rot out because of

restricted water flow.

In our Oregon Coast gutter guide we talk about some of the first signs of roof edge rot.

Hidden Leaks and Moisture Sources

Not all roof leaks are easy to spot, and sometimes the roof appears to be in good

condition from the exterior, without any obvious staining on the interior of the home.

We start inspecting the attic to check for signs of moisture, and find dark, wet, or soft

decking. That is an indicator that there is moisture present somewhere.

The real challenge is finding the source of the moisture.

Did a pipe boot leak? Is there a flashing issue? Has a gutter been overflowing on one

side of the roof? Has moisture been getting behind the fascia at the same roof plane for

several years?

The soft spots in the decking are simply an effect of the cause.

In our roof deck rot and soft spots guide we talk about some of the causes of soft roof

decking.

Just because one section of roof decking is damaged doesn't mean that the entire roof

is damaged. If the remainder of the roof is in good condition, a localized repair might be

appropriate.

The Intermittent Leak

One of the most challenging roof leaks to deal with is the intermittent leak.

Perhaps the roof was dry after the last storm, and it didn't appear to be raining hard

enough to leak.

Then it seems to appear randomly during a heavy Pacific Northwest storm. That usually

means that the wind is blowing rain sideways into roof transitions, vents, flashing, the

edges of the roof, and any other roof plane with a separation or seam.

Once the water gets into the roof, it can run around on the surface of the roof before

draining off the edge.

In most cases, the stain on the ceiling will appear some distance from where the water

actually got into the roof. That means that sealing the stain from the interior of the home

rarely fixes the problem.

We need to trace the water back to where it got into the roof to fix it.

When Is a Roof Repair Enough?

Roof repair in Pacific City can often be repaired rather than replaced.

If the roof is otherwise in good condition, and we find one or two bad pipe boots, a

flashing repair, a few shingles, or a small area of damaged decking, repairing those

sections can extend the life of the roof.

The repair versus replacement conversation starts when we begin to see multiple issues

with the roof.

If there are multiple leaks, multiple sections of soft or damaged decking, or multiple

sections where the roof has pulled away from the chimney or another roof plane, the

roof is no longer just a repair project.

That goes the same for roofs that develop new issues every year.

At some point, the most cost-effective option becomes a complete roof replacement

rather than multiple repairs.

In our Roof Repair Versus Roof Replacement Guide, we go over some of the ways we

decide which project is right for a given roof.

Signs It's Time for a Roof Inspection

You don't have to be on the roof to recognize some of the more obvious problems.

From inside the home, and on the ground, look for:

Missing or loose shingles
Heavy moss around the edges of the shingles
Over- flowing gutters
Stains around chimneys or skylights
A musty or moldy odor coming from the attic space
Wet or dark roof decking
A dip or sag in the roofline
Granules collecting in the gutters or around the downspouts
Leaking only during strong wind
Repeated roof repairs

Any one of these issues might not be a huge concern, but multiple problems are a sign

that it might be time to have the roof inspected.

Pacific City Roof Repair FAQs

Does a roof leak always mean I need a new roof?

Not necessarily, because a leak is often the result of one or more damaged roof

components that can be repaired.

Why does the roof only leak during certain storms?

The wind during a storm can push water into small openings in the roof, such as around

flashing, vents, roof-to-roof intersections, and small separations in the roofing material.

Is moss a problem on Pacific City roofs?

Moss can be problematic when it gets too thick on a roof, because it holds moisture and

can trap debris against the roofing material. It can also begin to lift the roofing material.

Moss is easier to treat before it gets out of hand.

Can a small section of soft decking be repaired?

If the damage to the roof decking is in one small area, it might be possible to repair the

affected section. Repairing the section can be appropriate for some types of roof

damage.

What should I do if the roof is leaking?

Protect the interior of the home and don't walk on the roof if it's leaking. Contact our

Emergency Roofing Services to have the roof inspected and the issue resolved.

Need Roof Repair in Pacific City?

Sometimes the issue is exactly what it appears to be, and sometimes the small issue is a

sign of something more insidious going on inside the roof structure.

The only way to be certain is to have the roof inspected by a professional.

Hardesty Roof Replacement offers roofing repair, replacement, residential and

commercial roofing, installation, and emergency roofing services for homeowners and

businesses throughout Pacific City and the Oregon Coast.

We can inspect the roof, advise on the scope of the project, and make recommendations

based on what we find.

Contact Hardesty Roof Replacement for a free estimate.

For more information about our local services, visit our Pacific City roofing services page.