Roof damage exposes your home's structure to serious problems such as water damage, mold, animal infestation, rot, and much more. Extensive roof damage can cost you a lot of money to repair, and this will leave you with unexpected increases in your home maintenance budget. To protect your home from the dangers of roof damage, be on the lookout for these warning signs.
1. Old Age
Most roofs have a life expectancy of about 30 years. However, the lifespan of your roof depends on your location. For instance, the weather in your region affects the longevity of your roof. If there are high amounts of rainfall, your roof’s lifespan could be reduced by half.
The roofing material also plays a major role. Even asphalt, a standard roofing material, differs in durability depending on the style and brand of the shingle chosen. To be on the safe side, be proactive and stay informed.
Check your home record and find out when the roof was installed, and what materials were used. Have you had the roof inspected ever since you moved in?
If years or even months have passed since your roof’s last inspection, consider calling a company that specializes in roof inspections. For example, if you live in the Roanoke VA area, you might want to get in contact with a business that does roofing in Roanoke VA to examine your roof and allow them to tell you about any problems you might not have noticed yourself. Contacting an expert before a major leak takes place will save you a ton of money in expensive repairs.
2. Ceiling Stains
If you see water stains or discoloration running down the walls or extending across the ceiling, your roof’s underlayment could be allowing moisture into the house, and you probably have a leaking roof. The hard part is tracking down the leak, but repairing the leak is pretty easy. You must fix a leaking roof immediately even if you are planning to get a new roof next year, or it doesn't bother you very much. Even in short periods, small leaks can culminate into worse problems such as damaged ceilings, broken insulation, rotten framing and sheathing, and mold.
3. Damaged Shingles
Weather elements such as rain, storm, and hail have significantly destructive effects on shingles. Always be on the lookout for missing or damaged shingles and replace them, particularly if you live in regions that experience extreme weather. Some of the visible indicators you should look out for include curled ends; they show your shingles are worn out. Dark-colored shingles show the presence of moisture that could damage your roof. However, if the problem is extensive, you may need to replace your roof.
4. Poor Ventilation
When there is a problem with your roof, your home's ventilation will be affected immediately. Some problems showing that you have poor roof ventilation include:
●
Energy
bills that seem a lot higher than usual
● Air trapped in the attic, which causes your HVACs system to struggle to cool down or heat your home.
Air that is trapped in your attic is most likely to lead to a moisture build-up. So, check for damaged insulation, mold growth, and condensation.
The growth of fungi and mold in your home can produce extremely dirty spots on your roof. The wallpaper and paint may peel, and your roof may also show signs of rust.
5. Roof Vent Problems
Check for broken seams on metal roof vents, and cracked housings on plastic ones. It is easy to be tempted to apply caulking as a fix; however, this won't be a long-lasting solution. This kind of problem has no solution apart from replacing the damaged vents. Also, check for missing or pulled nails at the bottom edge of the base. Replace them with screws fitted with rubber washers.
Usually, you can simply pull the nails out from under the shingles on both sides of the vent to free it. You will find other nails on the top side of the vent as well. In most cases, you can also loosen these without removing the shingles. Fasten the bottom into position with rubber-washer screws. Apply some caulk beneath the shingles on the two sides of the vent to add a water barrier and to hold the shingles in place. This solution is much simpler than renailing the shingles.
Noticing roof damage is not always an effortless task. You may not notice missing shingle granules or even a couple of missing shingles behind a gable from the ground. Roof leaks can occur for many months without producing visible water stains in the home. So, to identify roof damage before it culminates in a disaster, contact a roofing expert for routine roof inspections.
0 Comments