It’s frustrating to find water leaks and falling shingles after a storm due to neglected roofing. That’s why it’s crucial to know the warning signs when your roof needs fixing. If you wait too long to get your roof fixed, you might face major problems and expensive repairs in the future.
In this post, you’ll learn some expert tips from a roofing contractor to ensure you perform due diligence when maintaining your roof.
Conduct a Visual Roof Inspection
When the weather is fair, take time to check your roof. A visual inspection should be carried out several times a year, and if you suspect roofing problems, call a Corydon roofing contractor right away. Look for warning signs that may mean your shingles are almost near the end of their lifespan. Small roofing issues can be repaired and replaced relatively cheaply. However, a widespread problem would require a new roof.
Here are the things you need to watch out for when assessing your roof:
- Damaged Shingles: Inspect for cracked, missing, and dented shingles. Look for curled edges or corners. One thing to take a look at are the shingles themselves, if any are missing, cracked, have curling corners of shingles and missing granules. Asphalt or composite shingles shed granules that look like black, coarse sand when they start to wear out, and they find their way into the gutters.
- Clogged Gutters: If ever you notice pieces of shingles, granules, and sludge inside the rain gutters, this could be a sign of roof deterioration. As your asphalt roof ages, it will break down the detritus that are carried to the gutters, which will accumulate when it rains.
- Sagging Roof Deck: A warped or sagging roof deck is an indication of a bigger roofing problem, so it needs to be addressed immediately.
- Wet Spots and Algae Growth: Check the color of your roof. Do you notice any dark streaks or spots, and possible signs of mold or algae growth? These could be an indication of moisture that requires a roof repair or roof replacement.
- Peeling or Blistering Exterior Paint: A poorly ventilated attic causes increased moisture or humidity building up near the roofline, causing the paint to blister or peel. It is also an indication of a failing gutter system.
Conduct an Interior Home Inspection
Aside from checking your roof from the outside, it’s also vital to look for hidden problems that are more visible from the inside. Sometimes, these concealed problems can lead to more expensive repairs if neglected. Watch out for water leaks inside the home. Dirty, dark, or wet shingles are caused by trapped moisture. It means that your roof is not doing its job. Remember that water runs downhill, so the wetness may not be seen right under the damaged shingles. You may not see visible water leaks until some severe damage has been done.
Here are the things you need to pay close attention to when doing an interior home inspection:
- Check for signs of moisture in your attic and crawl spaces regularly, such as mold, mildew, pooling water, or water staining. Leaks in your attic after a rainstorm can be addressed by replacing the flashing or a roof replacement for a porous roof underlayment.
- Inspect for cracked or warped flooring due to neglected water leaks. Water damage to wood, tile, or laminate flooring may cause it to warp, split or crack.
- Water rings on your ceilings or walls. The underlayment of your roof may be allowing humidity and moisture into your home, leading to water stains. Replacing your roof should resolve this problem.
- Sagging or soft spots on the floor, most especially near the attic or gutters, can be seen.
- Roofing leaks may also leave warping, discoloration, and watermarks under your furniture items.
- A musty smell also indicates water damage and potential mold issue.
Check Exterior Light Indoors
Sunlight may penetrate from the roof, which is a sign of a roofing problem even on dry days. Check your attic on a sunny day with the lights off. If you see light showing through the roof, it means that your roof should be repaired, so you need to hire a roofing contractor to do the job if you cannot do it yourself.
Inspect Wear and Tear on Other Roof Objects
Assess your pipes, vents, chimneys, and other objects installed and penetrating your roof for deterioration. Roof repairs may include these fixes and, sometimes, are only confined to address problems on these areas.
Conclusion
You can perform a visual inspection to check if your roof needs repairs or a replacement. More often than not, the warning signs that your roof needs fixing are not obvious, most especially if you have high roofing. That’s why you’ll need to hire a professional roofing company to conduct the annual inspection and preventive maintenance of your roof.
