Although roofs are clearly meant to survive the worst Mother Nature can throw at them, it doesn’t mean they are completely invulnerable to outside factors. Over time, wear and tear will get to them and problems will appear. When they do, it’s best to have roof repairs to prevent them from worsening.
Call a roof repair expert when…
You’ve got water coming in from above
Surprisingly, one of the most common roofing problems that homeowners have to deal with isn’t visible from outside. Most of the water that gets through the roof will eventually find its way down your ceiling, forming dark ring-like patterns. In some cases, leaks form dark streaks along walls or columns. When severe enough, a leaky roof will actually have water dripping straight from your ceiling. It is necessary to have a leak fixed immediately because excessive moisture can cause all sorts of damage, not just to your ceiling and walls, but to electric appliances and furniture as well. Water can also cause your home’s electrical wiring to short out, posing a serious fire hazard. Talk about ironic!
You see mold
Sometimes, a leak-free roof is not enough to keep your home completely free from moisture-related damage. Damaged roof insulation can cause your attic to cool down enough to encourage water vapor to condense and form droplets on surfaces, creating excellent breeding spots for mold and mildew.
Mold and mildew looks gross and they give off that old, musty stench. However, what actually makes mold and mildew bad news is that they release spores that can cause respiratory problems. And when these spores spread around your home, they create even more mold spots, compounding the problem. Of course you shouldn’t rule out roof leaks, since mold also thrives on water coming from the outside, but getting damaged insulation checked out is also a good idea.
Your roof’s shingles are deformed
Each shingle is protected by a layer of asphalt granules, which wear out over time, gradually stripped by the wind or eroded by water runoff. If a shingle loses too many of these granules, it starts deteriorating faster than usual, developing cracks or getting warped out of shape. Another way shingle roofs get deformed is through is bending or curling, caused by the uneven expansion or contraction of a shingle’s top and bottom layers because of temperature changes. Once a shingle is bent or curled up, it forms gaps between it and the adjacent shingles, letting water pass through.
Your flashing is out of place
Damaged flashing is highly problematic because it acts as a protective barrier around edges, ridges, and valleys – all parts of the roof where water tends to flow along. However, tracking down flashing damage can be more difficult than spotting defective shingles which is why the job is mostly left to professionals. Fortunately, once the problem is spotted, repairing flashing can be as easy as re-applying sealant, if the damage is mild enough. More severe flashing damage will most likely require total replacement though.
When you spot these problems, don’t hesitate to call on a roof repair expert for help. Leaks, mold, and damaged shingles and flashing can do a real number on your roof but getting repairs done as soon as possible will help you do away with bigger problems.
Author Bio
As the owner of Bill Ragan Roofing and Associates, Inc., Bill Ragan gets to interact with a lot of his clients thus making him understand their roofing concerns better. He is passionate in writing so he shares all the learning he gets from customers and contractors alike to his blog.
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