As a homeowner, having roof problems is quite a horror. Resulting in most people ignoring the problem until they are absolutely needing reroofing. It can be quite troublesome if those issues escalated further too. Once the damage to the roof has started affecting the inside of the house, not only the roof, but the whole house would be in need of fixing or cleaning. Waiting for the bigger problems may even result in a more expensive and complicated solution.
Why stay ignorant and wait for a catastrophe when the problem can be dealt with before it becomes bigger? It really is important to look for signs of damage or at least some regular proper roof maintenance. How would I know if there is a need for a new roof? Here are some new roof signs that you may need to know.
1. Leaking
Here we start off with one of the most obvious and easiest to spot signs. Although it may be obvious, it isn’t actually that uncommon to find a person that ignores this sign. Of course, people would repair the big leaks and solve them immediately. But when it comes to smaller leaks, some people may just put a bucket down and call it a day, ignoring the threat of the growth of the leak. Even slight leaks can be a sign that the roof may be in need of replacement or repair. You may choose to ignore it since it does not trouble people much, but the latter problem could be more problematic and expensive to repair. If the house has an attic, you may also check up there during or after rainfall, especially thunderstorms, and spot closely for any water intrusion since leaks would most possibly come from there. Aside from regular leaks, the main problem with the roof can be water exposure, thus, mold spreading from the ceilings, dripping sounds, some high humidity levels inside the house, and water stains seen on the walls or ceiling can be factors that you may want to put your attention to. Roofing contractors tend to have quite the affordable roof inspections too, so it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.2. Odd Shingle Colors
The second most common and obvious sign is the colors. Much like anything else, the health of the roof may also be seen through its colors, the color may indicate that it is healthy and strong, at the same way, it may also indicate that it is in a bad condition. Shingles usually have a fluid color seen at its surface when it is healthy and once it starts getting old, it can easily be spotted and indicated, since it may seem to be like blotchy colors. If checking the color may be too much work, this process can be done while checking for any other issues on the roof. You can see them in areas such as the valleys where leaves or snow sit longer, and it may be more obvious to spot some than you would think. When the roof gets old, the roof could be nearing the end of its expected life span (there could be set lifespans depending on materials such as how asphalt shingle roofs last about 15-20 years) could imply that the roof is in need of roofing replacement.3. Rotting
There are lots of indicators for roof rotting and in the worst case, it can cause some extreme issues on the roof structure. For starters, a structure can deteriorate when wood rots due to moisture exposure for a long period of time, resulting in the growth of fungus. Late recognition of wood rot could lead not just to more damage but may even danger the occupants or homeowner. Here are some signs that may indicate wood rot:- A major situation is weakened decking. The decking is essentially what supports all the other roof layers, such as flashings and shingles, and can be considered as the base of your roof. Due to this, decking damage may also indicate damages on other parts of the roof too.
- Then there are torn flashings or missing shingles. Similar to how a weakened decking is caused, in fact, lots of roof rotting problems are caused by water. Strong winds, lightning, and thunderstorms can also gradually tear roof shingles. If so, water may be able to go through the sheathing layers below.
- An indented roof is also another sign of rotting and a professional should be contacted right away. This could be a sign of severe problems in the roof supporting beams and studs that are likely due to rotting. Not to mention, inappropriate selection of roofing materials can also lead to the roof sagging. Other such factors that may lead to it are heavy ice or snow and poor installation.
- Moss and mold in the attic. Checking the attic for mold and fungal growth regularly wouldn’t be a pain. Soggy insulations and the smell of mold may indicate this mold growth. As mentioned before, water leaks or even incorrect ventilation could result in a moldy attic. Damages may also worsen if not resolved quickly.
