Inspecting your roof for damage can be challenging because it is the part of your home that is most inconvenient to reach. However, if your roof is several years old, it has probably sustained some form of damage. Roofs start to wear out a few years after installation because of the many damaging factors in the environment. Rain, wind, sun, pollution, snow, hail, and many other environmental factors can cause the slow degradation of your roof.
Here are four signs that your roof needs immediate repair or replacement.
1. Water Damage in the Attic
A short inspection of your attic can tell you if your roof is damaged. A leaky roof lets water drip inside, staining the walls and causing mold growth. Do you notice damp areas in the attic? Is the paint peeling? Use a flashlight to check the roof from below. If you can see sunlight coming in through the roof boards, then your roof has holes in it. The next step should be to contact professional roof repair services. They can assess the extent of the damage and recommend the best solution for your roof. Postponing repair can cause further damage to your home, so it’s not a good idea to ignore a leaky roof.
2. Broken or Missing Shingles
After heavy rain or storms, look around your yard for broken shingles. If the weather caused damage to the roof, you will probably find that pieces of shingles or entire shingles have fallen to the ground. An important thing to know is that shingles don’t come off without a good reason unless they weren’t properly installed. Broken or missing shingles are a clear sign that your roof needs immediate attention. Replace the damaged or missing shingles as fast as possible; otherwise, wet weather will cause additional damage.
If you get up on the roof to look for missing shingles, make sure to follow safety rules. Walking on a damaged roof can be risky. Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to spot lifted shingles from the ground unless they have fallen over into the yard. After an episode of extreme weather, you must climb up and check the shingles or ask someone else to do it. Regardless of who gets up on the roof, respecting safety precautions is critical.
3. High Utility Bills
Spikes in your energy consumption can be a clue that somewhere in your home the air is leaking. If you notice that cooling or heating costs are increasing, check your windows and doors first. Air leaks are common around drafty doors and windows. However, if your doors and windows are perfectly sealed, then it’s time to look at the roof. The air is probably leaking out through holes in the roof. Naturally, having holes in the roof is not good.
A damaged or worn-out roof allows air to escape, diminishing your thermal comfort. It retains heat during the summer and lets cold air get in during winter. Your HVAC must consume significantly more energy than usual to maintain the desired temperature. If you believe that your roof is responsible for the spikes in your utility bills, consider repair or replacement. The older the roof, the more complicated repair becomes. For an energy-efficient home, you may need to replace your roof.
4. The Age of the Roof
Even with proper maintenance, roofs wear out as they age because they are exposed to environmental factors 24/7. The age of your roof can be a sign that a replacement is due. What’s the exact date of the installation? How many repairs were done in the meantime? Who installed or repaired the roof? What materials were used? Depending on material quality, a roof can last up to 50 years. To determine the age of your roof, you can either talk with the previous owner or with neighbors whose houses were built at the same time. Unfortunately, minor repairs cannot make a real difference if the roof is old. With an old roof, you have to stay alert all the time for potential issues, which can be exhausting. Only new roofs can resist external factors with minimal damage. Replacing your roof can be the best way to solve a plethora of maintenance issues.
Final Words
Things break all the time in a home, but the longer you neglect the problems, the more damage you may face. The good news is that you don’t have to fix everything yourself. Find reliable professionals that can help you keep your home in perfect condition, and maintenance will become a breeze.
