Storm and Wind Roof Repair in Portsmouth, RI

What does exposed wind do to a Portsmouth roof?

It looks for the weakest edge. Aquidneck's shoreline faces open water, so roofs see strong exposed wind and salt air in storms, which is a general pattern for island and shore housing rather than a Portsmouth measurement. The eaves, rake edges, ridge and any shingle that has lost its seal are where a roofer looks first.

The region has a history that explains the concern. Hurricane Bob made landfall near Newport in 1991, with extensive roof damage, sustained winds of 100 mph at Providence and a storm surge of 12 to 15 feet in Narragansett Bay. Sandy in 2012 also caused widespread roof damage across the state. Portsmouth is neighbors with the landfall point of one of those storms.

After a blow, photograph what you see from the ground and keep off the roof. Details on what a roofer checks are on the storm and wind damage repair page, and the hurricane and nor'easter guide covers documenting damage.

How does salt air change what a roofer checks?

Metal and fasteners get more attention. Flashing, drip edges, vent collars and nails are exposed to salt-laden air near the shore, and the roofer will look for corrosion, loose fasteners and metal that has lifted at an edge. Shingles can also look fine from the street while the metal around them has begun to fail.

Gutters and downspouts take the same punishment. Wind-driven rain in a storm can overshoot a gutter that works well on a calm day, and in winter an overflowing gutter freezes at the fascia. Gutter repair and installation explains what the roofer checks.

What is different about a roof on Prudence Island?

Everything starts with the water crossing. Prudence Island is reached by water, which adds logistics for any roofing job there: materials, tools and a crew all have to cross, and the schedule depends on the crossing as well as on the weather. Tell the line at the start that the house is on Prudence Island, not on Aquidneck.

That affects the quote and the timing, and it makes small problems worth catching early. A repair that can wait a month on the mainland may be harder to arrange at short notice by water, so a roofer may advise acting before the next storm season.

Do shoreline rules apply to a roof job?

They might, and the way to find out is to ask. A permit-information source for the Warwick area says properties within 200 feet of tidal water may need review by the Coastal Resources Management Council, and that is worth asking about for a Portsmouth house near the shore, though the rule that applies to your address is for the town and the council to say. The Warwick roof permit guide describes the same question for Warwick.

Ask your roofer what registration they hold with the Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board, and check it yourself. When you are ready, call (833) 751-2102 and tell the line which part of Portsmouth you are in.