If roof is still a problem, take proper steps

Published 1:43 pm Thursday, December 11, 2008

By Jessica Keller, The Courier-Herald

Many Enumclaw residents are still waiting for their roofs to be repaired after the windstorms that ripped through the Plateau at the beginning of the year, and city inspectors want residents to take the proper steps to ensure the problems will not reoccur.

Some residents may not realize more is required than just hiring a contractor to have a roof installed properly.

City inspector Cliff Brown said in order to prevent the amount of roof damage that occurred in December, residents and contractors should meet city standards for roofing, as Enumclaw is a designated "high wind zone."

He said city staff, driving through town after the windstorms, noted more than 500 roofs had significant wind damage, indicating roofs had previously been installed improperly.

Enumclaw typically requires a reroofing permit, but the permit process was waived after the December windstorm because of the high number of roofs damaged. However, owners or contractors still must fill out the permit forms so new roofs can receive inspections.

"We just want the people to get the inspections," Brown said.

Brown said the permit process and the inspections, which are free, are to make sure any new roofs installed meet the standards required for the area - that the work and materials provided meet or exceed the attachments for 90 mile per hour winds.

Brown said many people in town know what is required and have taken the proper steps, but there are some who are unaware.

Since the storm, Brown said inspectors have been in contact with 99 percent of the insurance companies in the area and have informed them of the requirements, and many of the roofers in the area also know they have to follow a procedure and follow inspection requirements. Brown said any good roofer, even one from outside the area, also knows to check with the city before beginning work.

Brown said the city needs to know what materials are going to be used in repairing the roof, so they can inform contractors of any special requirements, such as hand sealing, to make the roof less susceptible to future damage.

The city provides tear-off, half-way and final inspections for each property owner, and the record goes on file that the roof is up to city code.

"And that's about it, it's pretty simple, really," Brown said.

He said Enumclaw has been designated a high wind zone, meaning it is typical for winds to reach 90 miles per hour, for a number of years.

Brown said anyone still waiting for a roof to be replaced or repaired should call the city to be certain about current regulations; also, they need to be sure someone has completed the needed permit, especially if their contractor is from out of the area.

If a permit has not been submitted, homeowners should have their contractor get in touch with the building department and complete the form.

Brown said once the initial steps have been taken, the responsibility for doing the job correctly falls on contractor. Then, assuring everything was done up to code is the city's responsibility.

"That's our job - life safety, and that's what it amounts to," Brown said.

Jessica Keller can be reached at jkeller@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald