It's Raining - Can I Still Get My Estimate?

Rain And Roof Safety - Estimates

Can a roofer provide me an estimate, even though it's supposed to rain? 

I get this question all the time. The answer can be varied, depending upon conditions. Read on:

It's been raining for two days now, and last night we had a thunderstorm that boomed and poured 2 inches of rain on the local area in less than an hour.

I had an estimate scheduled for 6pm, which is really becoming my cut-off time due to the increasing darkness in the evenings. 

And then it happened. A thunderstorm rolled in, with wicked lightning, winds, and torrential downpours. I couldn't do my last estimate for a chimney cleaning because of it. The homeowner couldn't be home until 6pm, and was pretty angry that I was unable to keep his appointment. 

Why couldn't I do the estimate? Well, in a normal, slow-falling, soft rain, I might have been able to get on his roof. But consider a picture like this: 

See all the rain pouring off this roof? It's like a fast-moving stream, and it feels like one, when you're standing on a pitched roof. It virtually tries to grab your feet and push you off. Add high winds to the picture, and it becomes even more dangerous. Last night it also became so dark under the storm-clouds that I was barely able to see. Then came the lightning - and that's a complete no-no.

Would you stand on a roof if it were doing this?

Heh...I don't think so. It's like asking to be struck. So when it's this bad, I don't get on a roof. Nope. 

But say it's been raining softly, and the roof looks like this: 

Realistically, this roof is very slick, but it's not going to keep me from climbing up there. Sometimes it's actually better for a roof leak estimate. The rain aids me to see where the leak is, both inside and out. 

So as you can see, there are a few variables when I consider getting on a roof in the rain. Most of the time, I can do estimates and perform repairs, but there are some days when the storms and the wind prevent me from doing my job. In that case, I like to reschedule. If it's going to rain again tomorrow (like it is today) please be patient - unless it's an absolute emergency, and you've got a leak that's pouring into your attic - it would be safer for both you and me if I reschedule your appointment. 

I hope this has been informative to you, and as usual, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me! Best Quality Roofing and Chimney 631-281-9100.