San Diego Roofer Advises Homeowners to Inspect Roofs Ahead of El Niño

San Diego County homeowners are advised to inspect their roofs ahead of a potentially strong El Niño season expected to bring heavy rain, according to local roofing expert Emilio Lopez.

El Niño influences weather patterns but is not a storm itself. NOAA has forecasted a potentially very strong season, raising concerns about rain-related damage and costly emergency repairs.

Lopez, a San Marcos roofer with over 40 years of experience, said problems hidden during dry conditions often become visible during heavy storms. He recommends roof inspections, gutter cleaning, and trimming branches that overhang roofs to prepare for wet weather.

"We're going to get a lot of water that we haven't seen in a very long time," Lopez said.

San Diego County experienced flooding in January 2024 due to unexpected heavy rain, catching many homeowners unprepared.

Lopez explained roof damage can be subtle and hard for homeowners to detect. "Sometimes you get hairline cracks, they separate and they expose the black paper or the underlayment," he said while showing a broken tile sample.

He emphasized that regular maintenance often goes overlooked until leaks appear during storms, making repairs more urgent and costly. "Because then prices go up, people are going to be busy, they're going to start turning down business where you're going to be calling all kinds of different roofers and everybody's going to be busy. So then meanwhile, you're living with the roof leak," Lopez added.

Homeowners can expect to pay around $200 for a licensed company to inspect their roof and evaluate its condition against rain damage.

Lopez noted signs for a roof replacement include visible fibers in shingles. "Once you start seeing fibers in the shingles then it’s time for a reroof," he said.

He also advised clearing gutters and downspouts to prevent water from backing up and damaging roof structures. "Because the water level will rise up and start going through the spikes which would start rotting out all the fascia boards or rafter tails," Lopez explained.

Trimming branches overhanging roofs is another precaution to reduce storm-related damage risk.

Preparing for a busy rainy season, roofing companies are stocking materials for emergency tarps and repairs. "So we are gearing up for it. We're already buying a lot of materials to do emergency tarps.

We do a lot of emergency repairs during the rainy season. And this year, we expect a lot," Lopez said.

Homeowners should review their insurance policies since most do not cover damage from older or neglected roofs.

Hiring licensed contractors is crucial for roof inspections and repairs to ensure proper work, Lopez advised.