Roofing in Berkeley, CA

Fog rolls in off the marine layer most mornings and never fully burns off in the hills, so shingles and roof deck stay damp longer than they should. That moisture wicks into the underlayment, then into the sheathing.

The 1890s to 1910s Victorian and Edwardian houses around here were framed with old-growth lumber, and their wood shake roofs are often past end-of-life wear. We inspect the rake and eave boards for rot before we quote anything.

Winter rain from October through April hammers hillside properties and finds every gap in step flashing and chimney flashing. Gutters and downspouts back up, water ponds at the valley, and a small drip becomes a systemic leak.

On mid-century modern homes we usually find sagging roof deck, clogged soffit vents, and poor attic ventilation, which cooks the asphalt shingles from underneath. We fix the venting and insulation first, because a new roofline over a wet deck will not last.

Craftsman bungalows from the early 1900s have low-slope porches and dormers where flashing was hand-sealed decades ago. Recaulking buys a season. Replacing the counter-flashing is the honest fix.