Weather Warning!

New Nor'easter Coming Our Way

Once Again Forecasters Not Publicizing Wind Importance

It's happening again. Our local meteorologic center has forecast rain, sleet, and snow, but in their description of the forecast one can't find hide nor hair of a description of the wind direction. I is listed in the day-to-day forecasts on the front page, but for those with bad eyesight, it's in such small font that one might ignore it. 

Above is the precipitation forecast, and below is the description for each day. I had to blow this up for you to even see it: 

See those winds? Why, oh why doesn't the forecast talk about them? 

Well, perhaps they don't want to jump the gun. IMHO, it would be smart to begin talking about it now rather than tomorrow morning. That will just send residents into another frenzy of bread and milk buying on Sunday, causing the usual headaches in traffic. Fortunately I shop on Saturday, so I'll avoid all of this. 

The one big thing I keep my eyes on during an approaching storm is the winds. That way I can tell what sort of a storm it will be. When the wind comes from the Northeast, it's a Nor'easter. I prepare according for them, by stocking extra shingles, plywood, ice and water shield, cement, tar, nails, torch down rubber, and tarps. We try to be ready to repair any roof that will undoubtedly suffer from the wind, rain, and sleet. 

Why are Nor'easters so annoying, roof-wise? 

Roofs are built in the direction that the house was built - say, North-South or East-West. Some homes are built a little more diagonally, but generally speaking due to the layout of streets on Long Island, our houses have been built following the primary directions. 

When a Nor'easter strikes, it blows up the corners of the shingles, in a diagonal fashion. This is bad. It also has a tendency to blow rain horizontally, allowing it to get under shingles. If you haven't got ice and water shield under the leading edge of your shingles (that's the very start of you shingles, close to the edge of your roof) the result will be wind-driven rain under your shingles and possibly into the decking (plywood) below. AS the leading edge of the shingles gets pried up, more and more shingles are shaken loose. 

It's a bad scene all around. 

Here's a video of some shingles being pried loose during a Nor'easter: 

See how it starts? One or two go, and then it leads to whole swatches being pried up. Not good. 

If you see loose, missing, shingles blowing off as a result of the Nor'easter, call me immediately. 

We can get there and either replace the shingles or place a tarp down before your decking (plywood underneath) gets too wet. 

If you discover a new, fast-dripping leak, call me right away. 

A fast-dripping leak could be a very bad situation, or nothing. Don't take the chance that you might have a serious problem. Call us when it's happening so that we can check to see where it's coming from and stop it ASAP. 

If you experience leaking from a skylight or chimney, call me as soon as possible. 

Skylights and chimneys can be tricky in Nor'easters. Some may leak because of old flashing, others may drip due to inadequate seals. It's highly likely that your skylight and possibly your chimney cap will drip during a Nor'easter. Don't worry - it's not the end of the world. Very often we can repair situations like these without any fuss - and save you significant money by taking care of it ASAP. 

Best Quality Roofing and Chimney is standing by to help you.

Call anytime at 631-281-9100

If you get our answering service, we'll call you right back. 

Let us know if it's an emergency. 

We'll get there within the hour to help you. 

*Serving Suffolk County, NY

with Quality Roofing, Chimney, Skylight, Siding and Gutter Repair.