Central Coast roofing companies see increased demand as El Niño approaches
Roofing companies in California are experiencing a surge in service requests as residents prepare for the potential impacts of a significant El Niño, with experts urging timely action.
Roofing companies in California are seeing a rise in service calls as residents prepare for what Governor Gavin Newsom has described as a potentially historic El Niño.
Premo Roofing reported an uptick in demand, with staff noting the challenges of keeping up with the volume of requests.
“The biggest issue is timing, so many roofing contractors are so busy right now and getting booked up. You get a little concern about the emergency stuff just because it’s going to be harder and harder to get to as time goes by,” Jeff Premo, owner of Premo Roofing, said.
The company added that customers are raising awareness about the potential severity of this year’s El Niño.
“I think my customers are putting a scare in me in regards to how busy we’re going to be because they are the ones pointing out quite often that they’re hearing about a big El Niño year,” Premo said.
To prepare for the season, Premo Roofing emphasized the importance of readiness.
“It’s just a matter of having our men on call, having all the materials, tarps, all the things we need this time of year to be able to take care of people,” Premo said.
The company also advised homeowners to act quickly to address any existing issues.
“Maybe have the roof evaluated. If they are aware of a current leak or issue that they’ve been addressing, try to get that done as soon as possible,” Premo said.
They warned that small problems could escalate during heavy rains. “It takes a small leak that all of a sudden becomes a big leak because it’s just non-stop,” Premo said.
Some residents have already taken steps to protect their homes.
One homeowner shared their approach, Douglas Kasunich, saying, “Over the years I let my house pretty much revert back to natives, and I have natives growing everywhere. I have good ground cover from natives, and natives are particularly resistant to erosion and flooding.”
Others expressed skepticism about the potential impact of El Niño.
“Well, pay attention to the weather would be one thing, but it might be getting hyped up a little bit,” one resident said.