A Busy Summer on Western New York Roofs: What We Saw This Season

EB Builders Roofing and Renovations

Summer is always one of the busiest times of year for roofing in Western New York, and this year was no exception.

Our crews spent the season moving between roof inspections, repairs, Roof Maxx® treatments, full roof replacements, leak calls and plenty of projects where the homeowner simply wanted to know what shape their roof was actually in.

When you spend that much time on roofs, patterns start to show up.

We saw worn pipe boots, problem areas around transitions, water sitting where it shouldn’t, deteriorated plywood, older cedar shake systems, aging shingles and roofs that looked fine from the ground but told a very different story once we got up there.

Before we move into fall, we wanted to do a quick summer roll call and share some of the roofing problems we saw most often across Western New York.

Water was one of the biggest issues we saw

One of the things we talk about often is that shingles are not designed to hold water. They are designed to shed it.

That distinction matters.

When a roof has a poorly designed transition, a low spot, improper flashing or an area where water can sit instead of draining, it creates a much greater chance for water to find its way into the roof system.

A roof leak does not always start with a missing shingle or a dramatic storm. Sometimes it starts with water repeatedly collecting in the same place.

That is why roof drainage, flashing and transitions are such an important part of any roof inspection.

Small roofing components can cause big problems

Some of the leaks we dealt with this summer came from areas homeowners would never notice from the ground.

Pipe boots, flashing, vents, valleys and roof penetrations may only make up a small part of the roof, but they are some of the most common places for water intrusion to begin.

A failing pipe boot, for example, can let water into the roof deck long before there is an obvious leak inside the home.

Catching those smaller roofing problems early can sometimes mean the difference between a relatively simple roof repair and a much larger project later.

What is underneath the shingles matters too

One of the biggest misconceptions about roofing is that the shingles tell the whole story.

They do not.

During tear-offs this summer, we found damaged plywood, old cedar shake systems, gaps in decking and areas where previous roofing work had covered up problems instead of correcting them.

That is one of the reasons a proper roof inspection matters.

The visible condition of the shingles is important, but a roofer also needs to pay attention to how the roof was built, how water is moving across it and whether there are signs of damage underneath the surface.

Does every older roof need to be replaced?

No.

That is probably one of the most important things homeowners should understand.

Some roofs we looked at this summer needed a repair. Others were ready for a full roof replacement. Some asphalt shingle roofs still had enough life left to qualify for a Roof Maxx® treatment, which can help restore flexibility to aging shingles and extend their useful life by approximately five years.

And some roofs simply needed to be watched.

The recommendation should depend on the roof.

That is why we do not approach every inspection assuming the answer is replacement.

A good roofing inspection should help determine whether the best next step is repair, restoration, replacement or no immediate work at all.

What should homeowners look for after summer?

As we move into fall in Western New York, there are a few things worth paying attention to.

If you noticed a ceiling stain after a heavy rain, found shingles in the yard, saw unusual water runoff, have an older asphalt roof or simply cannot remember the last time someone inspected it, fall is a good time to get a clearer picture of what is going on.

Roofing season does not suddenly stop when summer ends, but weather starts becoming less predictable.

Leaves, rain, colder nights and eventually freeze-and-thaw cycles can make existing roofing problems more noticeable.

Knowing what condition your roof is in before winter gives you more time and more options.

A summer on the roof tells you a lot

After a busy summer, one thing stays consistent: roofing problems rarely fit into one simple category.

Sometimes the answer is a repair. Sometimes it is Roof Maxx®. Sometimes the roof has simply reached the end of its life and replacement is the right call.

Our job is to figure out which one you are actually dealing with.

If you are unsure about the condition of your roof, EB Builders offers roof inspections throughout Western New York and the surrounding Chautauqua County area. We will take a look, explain what we see and help you understand the next step without assuming you need a new roof.