The City of Davis receives an average annual rainfall of 19.6 inches, with approximately 90%—or 17.63 inches—falling between November and April. While this precipitation benefits our environment, it also presents significant challenges for UC Davis’ infrastructure, particularly the roofs of the 1,200-plus Davis campus buildings.

Managing such an extensive portfolio requires balancing budgets and lean staffing year round, with intensified demands during the rainy season. Despite challenges, over the past five years, Facilities Management’s roofing team has repaired or replaced roofs on over 30 buildings. Many additional repairs and replacements are planned over the next two years.  A comprehensive list of buildings with recent roof repairs and replacements, including completed and planned, can be found on this webpage.

How Roof Repairs Are Prioritized

With such a large number of buildings, not all roof repairs can be completed immediately. Instead, repairs are prioritized based on safety concerns, building usage, and the extent of roof damage. For example, classrooms, research labs, buildings containing valuable collections, sensitive equipment, and animal care facilities are addressed first. 

"The work we’ve done—and continue to do—is showing promising results," said Clint Lord, associate vice chancellor, UC Davis Facilities Management. "During the recent atmospheric river, our area received 20% of its annual rainfall, and we experienced very few roof issues.

"We understand that even one leak can cause significant frustration for those affected. Please know that our team is committed to addressing the most urgent needs, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to prioritize and remedy problems."  

Day-to-Day Challenges in Roofing Maintenance

Maintaining and improving campus roofs presents significant and unique challenges. Many roofs are nearing or exceeding their intended lifespans, particularly those installed during a major wave of replacements in the 1990s. 

Despite being a small team of five, the roofing crew diligently addresses roofing issues across campus. However, it’s important to recognize that water intrusion problems aren’t always caused by damaged roofs—windows, plumbing, or other infrastructure issues can also be to blame. 

"Diagnosing leaks can also be time-consuming," explained Sean Snyder, senior inspector, planner, and estimator for Facilities Management. "Water often travels along structural elements, making it difficult to identify the actual source. In emergency situations, temporary solutions like tarps and buckets are used to minimize damage while our team works to find and address the underlying issue."

Operational constraints further complicate the team’s efforts. Repairs often need to be scheduled around building use, noise restrictions, and sensitive equipment. For instance, in research labs or animal care facilities, repairs may require working at night or first relocating animals.

"You will find us working at 3 a.m. with headlamps on if that is what it takes," said Snyder.

Funding Challenges

Despite investing well over $5M on much-needed roof repairs since 2020, roof maintenance is an ongoing budgetary challenge. 

"Deferred maintenance funding, especially from the state, is scarce these days given current economic conditions," said Clare Shinnerl, vice chancellor Finance, Operations, and Administration. "Our goal is to prioritize and be transparent about the financial limitations we face."

The good news is that some projects, like seismic retrofitting, may include roof replacements as part of a broader scope.  For example, Young Hall’s seismic retrofit, and its new roof, is being funded by the state. 

Building a Resilient Future

UC Davis is taking proactive steps to address these challenges and build resilience. The campus has standardized the use of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) membranes for new roofs, a transition led by Snyder. 

"Switching from TPO [Thermoplastic Polyolefin] to PVC as the campus roofing standard was a critical move; PVC performs far better in our climate’s harsh weather conditions," Snyder said. "We are also tackling legacy issues:  HVAC equipment used to be placed directly on the roof which can create cracks in the roof over time. Now we elevate this type of infrastructure."

Where to Report Water Issues

Leaks and water damage can disrupt university operations, so it’s important to act quickly. Facilities Management is here to help.

Visit the Facilities Management Roof Repair page to learn more about:

• How and where to report issues.
• Updates on ongoing repair efforts.

Together, we can mitigate the impact of the rainy season and maintain the safety and integrity of our campus buildings.