A roof leak on the San Juan Islands rarely announces itself where it starts. Water enters at a failed flashing or a cracked fastener, travels along the underside of the deck, and finally drips through a ceiling several feet away. With roughly 40 inches of rain a year and the heaviest of it arriving in November, an island leak that goes untreated through one wet season can turn a minor repair into a full deck rebuild. This how-to walks you through finding the true source and
An asphalt shingle roof is the most common roof in the San Juan Islands, and for good reason: it is affordable, widely available, and straightforward to repair. A full asphalt roof typically runs somewhere in the range of $9,000 to $24,000 depending on size, pitch, and access — figures that are an estimate, not a quote. That is real money, and the difference between a roof that lasts 15 years and one that lasts 25 usually comes down to maintenance, not luck. The wet, salty,
Why Ferry Logistics Affect Your Island Roofing Project
If you own a home in the San Juan Islands, you already know the ferry runs your life a little. It decides when you buy groceries, when guests arrive, and when the propane truck shows up. What surprises most homeowners is how much that same ferry schedule shapes a roofing project — the timeline, the crew, the materials, and yes, the final bill. Roofing on San Juan Island, Orcas, Lopez, or Shaw is not the same as roofing in Anacortes or Mount Vernon. A mainland contractor
How to Choose Between Standing Seam and Exposed-Fastener Metal
Metal is the smartest long-term roof for the San Juan Islands. It shrugs off wind-driven rain, resists moss, and stands up to salt air far better than asphalt. But once you have decided on metal, a second decision waits: standing seam or exposed-fastener panels. The two look similar from the road, cost very differently, and age very differently, especially within sight of saltwater. This how-to walks you through the choice step by step so you end up with the right system fo