New Almaden roofs in the foothill community

Why does the county office decide the permit here?

An unincorporated community has no city permit office, so questions about a roof permit are answered by the county. The technician asks for the address on the first call, names the office that holds the file and notes the requirement on the scope.

The roofer's C-39 licence and workers' compensation certificate are checked in the same way as anywhere in the state, whichever office holds the file.

The hill wind also works on the chimney and the ridge vent together. A chimney with a loose cap and a ridge vent that has lifted both let the storm in, and the technician checks each one before deciding which is the source of a stain.

How does the hill wind affect the ridge?

The ridge takes the wind across the whole length of the roof, and a ridge piece that was set on weak mortar or a corroded fixing can rock and then lift. The technician checks each piece by hand and re-sets any that move.

The ridge vent is checked too, since the wind can lift or tear it, and a lifted vent lets rain into the attic.

How are the wooded lots' gutters kept clear?

Leaves and needles block the gutters on a wooded lot and hold the water against the covering. The technician clears each run, tests it with water and re-pitches any section that holds a pool.

The outlets are placed so the water leaves the foundation, and a splash block or a short pipe is set where the ground would otherwise hold the water.

What does a hilltop old building need from its roof?

Older buildings on the hill often carry a covering that has been patched over the years, and the deck beneath may be sound or may have softened. The technician counts the layers and reads the deck from the attic before deciding whether to repair or to strip.

Chimneys and vents on these buildings are checked for flashing that has lifted in the wind, and the mortar at the chimney is repointed where it has cracked.

How is the access planned on a hill lot with a steep drive?

A steep drive limits the size of the materials and the tools a crew can carry. The technician plans the load in smaller parts, and the crew brings the ladders and the sheet in the order the work needs them.

Where the drive is too steep for the van, the materials are carried by hand from the nearest level point. The owner is told the plan on the day so the access is understood.

The owner is told the expected window and the reason if the visit moves, so the plan stays clear.