Roofing in Gresham, OR: East Wind and Ice Damage

Roofing in Gresham is shaped by the Gorge

Roofing in Gresham has to stand up to something the west side of the metro mostly escapes: cold east wind funnelling out of the Columbia River Gorge. In the January 2024 storm the National Weather Service measured gusts to 55 mph across northern Gresham and the neighboring cities, and the freezing rain that came with it left up to two inches of ice.

Wind works on shingles in a particular way. It gets under the lower edge of a tab, breaks the sealant bond, and bends the shingle back along a line. A tab that has been creased once has lost its strength there even if it lies flat again. So after a wind event the damage is not only the missing shingles you can see, but the lifted ones next to them.

What that means for a Gresham roof

• Repairs. A roofer replacing blown-off shingles should check the surrounding courses and the ridge caps for broken seals. See roof repair.
• Replacement. The largest share of Gresham’s houses dates from the 1970s, so many are due or overdue. Ask what the shingle manufacturer’s instructions say about nailing in high-wind areas and whether the bid follows them. See roof replacement.
• Metal. Some owners on exposed lots look at metal roofing for this reason. Panels and trim have their own wind details, so ask how the edges are fastened.

Ice has a second effect. Its weight stays on the roof for days, and a roof that already had a soft deck may show a sag afterward.

Published figures for repairs and replacement are on the cost page.