The roof on your house, the defender against all environmental elements, is a constant prey to weather damage. When an aggressive storm hits town, your roof will likely to get much more insult compared to the windows, doors or even the walls of your house. The large surface area of it and its position on top make it a susceptible target. Not only does your roof take a beating in adverse weather conditions, it’s not a rare event for it to suffer from some sort of damage when the sun’s out. Since your roof acts as a shade for your entire house, it is exposed to the most amount of UV rays from the sun and we all know how harmful UV light can be! To put it simply, your roof is constantly undergoing some sort of degeneration, whether it’s chronic or acute. And that’s exactly why your roof needs repairs and regular maintenance.
Not every homeowner is familiar with the signs of roof damage and the key signs to look out for that beg for a repair. Building a house is itself a big expense and to make sure you’ve invested your money right, you want to keep your roof maintained and functioning for a long time. Aging can further deteriorate the quality and function of your roof and the effects of aging are multiplied if you don’t get the necessary repairs every now and then.
Here in this blog post, we’ll throw light upon some of the most important roof damage that should instantly alert you that you require a repair.
Top 3 Roofing Problems to Address
#1: Leaky Roofs and Water Damage
Sometimes something so harmless like water can be the worst enemy for your roof. Water damages are one of the most common and the most fatal roof problems that should prompt you into calling a professional contractor for the necessary repairs. This type of damage can show signs both inside the house and outside it.
From the outside, leaks and water damage can manifest in the form of clogged gutters and damaged or eroded fascia. The recommended course of action to investigate signs of water damage outside your home is to take a quick look at the gutters and soffits. You should also keep a careful lookout for the fascia underneath the soffit. The fascia is often found damaged or soaked when there is a leak or water damage. You might also find the paint peeling, growth of greens on it or even the boards swollen up. Gutters are frequently found clogged when water damage occurs and if that’s the case, then your drainage system might be causing the water damage in the first place.
You will also be able to see the signs of water damage from inside your house if the water damage is especially large. The ceilings, especially of your attic, are the first victims of water damage and leaks. If you notice large wet spots, peeling paint or swelling of the paint in your ceiling or even your wall, it’s a sure shot sign that there’s a leak on your roof. Sometimes the leak might even start dripping. This is when the leak has extended beyond control and you’ll need to contact a professional roofer immediately.
Apart from the ceiling, signs of water damage can also be investigated from the chimney of your house. Usually the flashing around the chimney keeps water from seeping in but when the flashing is damaged or chipped off, you will notice the chimney walls get damp from rainwater. It’s a good idea to check the bricks of your chimney for any dampness when it rains.
The attic, as already stated before, is the first place in your house that will show the typical signs of water damage. Before you pass the verdict on a leaky roof, you should go to your attic and take a look around for any signs of water damage. If a leak or water damage has occurred, you’re likely to find leaks in the ceiling and even damp floors or rafters. The ridge line in your attic might also be affected with water damage. The ventilation pipes in your home could also present with signs of water damage so it’s wise to evaluate vents and pipes that originate from your roof.
Water damage also inevitably comes with a certain damp smell in the air that can easily be picked up. Other signs of roof water damage can be swollen wood and mold growth especially when the damage has progressed to a fair amount.
#2: Check for any signs of mold growth
Mold is one of the dreadful signs of roof water damage that nobody wants to experience. Mold remediation is an extremely stressful and expensive project so you want to make sure that the problem is nipped in the bud before it propels out of hand.
Water damage leads to mold growth but sometimes there might be no other signs of water damage or leaks and you could still experience the growth of mold. In those unexpected cases, it would be a good idea to investigate your ventilation system. Improper roofing ventilation could build up the moisture content inside your home and we all know that mold thrive in humid, moist conditions. The attic or the basement is especially vulnerable to mold growth because these rooms tend to be the most humid naturally.
Mold can not only be unsightly but it also encourages respiratory tract problems and aggravates allergies, asthma and skin issues. If you want to make sure your family gets a healthy environment in your house, you need to stop mold growth in its tracks by contacting an expert roofer to fix the underlying water damage.
#3: Check for any signs of moss and algae on your roof
While mold grows preferentially inside your house, other fungal greens like moss and algae can be found outside on top of your roof when there’s water damage. Moss, algae, lichens and other classes of fungi are an alarming condition to have flourishing on your roof. It’s not too hard to find out exactly which type of green is growing on your roof but at the end of the day, they all cause the same type of roof damage.
For starters, moss and algae make your roof look dirty, unattractive and inhospitable. They deteriorate the appeal of your house and they also cause functional damage to your roof. Excess moss and algae on a roof inevitably leads to a complete roof replacement and that is an expensive project. If you want to make sure your roof stays in shape and moss free for a long time, you should call for the necessary repairs as soon as you can and stop its growth in its tracks. What homeowners need to realize is that since moss and algae are fungus, they’re not exactly dead or metabolically inactive. In fact, these organisms are constantly leaching nutrients and participating in the active degeneration of various roof structures. Shingles are probably the first targets and when moss and algae grows on your roof, you might find your shingles become loose, break or go entirely missing from their roots. This is because the fungus can actually make use of the oils that constitute asphalt shingles and use it as a source to produce their fuels; the result of which is disintegrated shingles with granules and debris found in drain pipes.
Since shingles make up the most important part of your roof, any damage to them will ultimately result in your entire roof becoming compromised. Constant shingle damage will lead to your roof losing its form and function. Excess moss and algae might even cause the roof to buckle under pressure. Plus if a storm hits a roof that’s in such a bad shape, it could essentially lead to a roofing crisis.
Nowadays some homeowners have shifted to metal roofing instead of asphalt shingles. Along with increased longevity that comes with metal roofs, roofs made up of zinc or copper is toxic to biological growth and may be your best choice if you want an algae-resistant roof. However, metal roofs are considerably more costly and require more complex installation that the average asphalt shingle roof.
Contact a Qualified Roofing Company Today!
At Ultimate Roofing, your roof is always our priority. Whether you need repairs from water damage, leaks, clogged drains, mold or moss growing on top of your roof, our expert roofers are equipped to handle it in an effective and professional manner.