Warnings That You Need a Roof Repair

Roof damage is one of the unexpected repairs that a home owner may have to deal with. A quality roof should last at least twenty to twenty-five years, but exposure to harsh weather can decrease that number. It could be wind damage, snow & ice damage or hail damage, but when the damage occurs in one catastrophic moment, the inconvenience and expense can be devastating. Besides the cost factor, the water seeping into your house through the damaged roofs can be destructive, affecting just everything below it from wooden floors to furniture and even rusting metal frames. The moisture will also promote the growth of allergens like algae and molds and thus affecting our health indirectly. Inspecting your roof regularly and making little fixes as needed can prevent some costly repairs down the road — and keep those raindrops from falling on your head.

Here are some warnings that you can spot to see if you need a roof repair:

Water Leakage

Perhaps the most severe problem that your home can have with a damaged roof. Water stains on the roof are perfect indicators of leakage. When you come across a leak, keep in mind that it has been developing for some time, and that there can be further complications that must be found.

Roof Age

How old is your existing shingle roof? Most experts agree that a typical roof will last between 20 and 25 years. This age range also depends on whether you built upon a previous roof, and therefore have layers. In cases where there are multiple layers, you may just be delaying the inevitable, because severe issues can be hidden beneath the layers.

Missing Shingles

Loose, broken, or shingles that just end up falling off are the most common of problems for the average roof. Shingles usually get displaced because of heavy winds and constant rain storms. Missing shingles create openings that can allow water to seep into the woodwork and cause structural damage. They must be replaced as soon as possible to prevent future damage.

Damaged Flashing

Flashing is a layer of metal sheeting, usually made from copper, tin, or aluminum, installed at an angle or joint in your roof, which prevents water from breaching the roof. The most common place to find flashing is around your chimney or sewer vent pipe. Flashing damage occurs when your metal flashing material gets cracked or bent. It normally happens because of improper installation or drying and cracking on an older roof.

Algae Staining and Moss Growth

Algae stain is the discoloration that can appear on your roof. However, algae alone doesn’t ruin a roof, but it will often allow moss to grow. When moss is removed from the roof, it washes out the asphalt granules with it and shortens the life of roof.

Rotting Wood and Mold Problems

It’s not uncommon that your wooden roof may start to decay in areas with high humidity and moisture. Mold begins to grow inside holes of wood and spreads quickly.  A chalky substance spreading on the interior of your roof is the sign of extensive rotting.

Decaying Shingles

All roofing materials eventually deteriorate. Deteriorating shingles are actually fairly easy to notice. Look for any splitting, cracking, chipping, peeling, curling, or blistering and replace the affected shingles as necessary.

Shingle Granules in Gutters

Look in your gutters to see if there are granules. Roofs tend to lose more granules toward the end of their life cycle.Granule chunks flowing into the rain gutters point out that the granular coating on roof is quickly failing, which may lead to a leaky roof.

Dripping Sounds

If you hear the sound of dripping water, you probably have an active leak already. A professional roofing contractor should be called to take a look at your roof and attic in order to determine the source of the problem.