How does the sea air change the roof edge?
The fascia, the soffit and the drip edge are the parts of the roof most exposed to salt. Paint blisters and the wood behind it softens when the salt holds moisture against the surface, so the trim is primed on every face and checked at each visit.
Salt also corrodes the nails and brackets that hold the gutter, and a gutter that has pulled away from its fixings sends water to the fascia. The fixings are checked at the same time as the trim.
What do river-valley storms bring to the coast?
Heavy rain that falls on the river valley runs down to the coast and reaches the roofs at the river mouth as a strong, wind-driven flow. The gutters and the outlets must carry that flow, and the downspouts are checked for blockage and for a clean fall away from the wall.
A roof that has been opened by such a storm is covered the same day if possible. The cover is fixed to the structure and the damage is photographed before anything is moved.
Which materials suit a coastal roof?
Metal flashing and fixings are chosen to resist salt, with coated or stainless fixings where the exposure calls for them. Sealants are selected for the joints they close, and the lap of each piece is set so water runs over the joint rather than into it.
A coating may be an option for a sound flat section, but it is not a fix for a membrane that is split or ponding. The technician tests the surface before recommending one.
Why are the fixings on a coastal gutter checked?
The brackets and the screws that hold a gutter are small, and they are the first part of the gutter to corrode in salt air. A bracket that has rusted through lets the channel sag, and the sagging channel holds water that spills over the front edge onto the fascia below.
The technician replaces corroded brackets with a metal that suits the exposure and fixes them into the rafter tail or a solid backing where the structure allows. The run is then re-pitched so the water reaches the outlet, and the outlet is tested with a run of water.
How is a flat section on an Ocean Beach building checked?
A flat section on a coastal building is read for ponding, for the seams and for the flashing at the parapet. Salt on a membrane holds moisture against the seam, and the seam is checked for lift at its edge where the salt has settled.
Drains on these sections are cleared and tested. A drain that sits high or a basin that holds a pool is recorded, since the standing water is a load that speeds the failure of the seams around it.
