A roof is a crucial part of every home. Having a roof installed or replaced is never cheap and understandably so, since of work goes into it. A roof is an investment and as a homeowner, you want to make sure that you get the most out of your investment. This requires having routine maintenance done and addressing any problems or damages as soon as they occur.
With a roof, you never want to wait to fix any damage. Failure to address damage as soon as possible will likely result in the damage worsening and you having to spend more money. Roof damage is a homeowners nightmare, but the sooner you catch it, the easier it will be for you to have it fixed. As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to know what the warning signs of roof damage are and address them promptly.
Today we will be covering some of the most common and easiest ways to spot roof damage, and what to do if you find some.
Shingles and what to look for
The most common roof type amongst homeowners in the United States is asphalt shingle roofs. There are a few different signs that signal roof damage on shingle roofs. The first is bent, curled, missing, or damaged shingles. This may seem like an obvious sign but it’s still important to talk about. Missing shingles are easy to spot since it makes your roof look out of uniform and scattered. To spot bent or damaged shingles you will likely have to be on the roof. This is why it is super important to have a roof inspection done by a professional at least once a year. Damaged, lifted, and missing shingles are normally caused by the wind, especially after an intense storm. An older roof on its last leg may also experience shingle loss.
Another thing to look for on your shingles is any dents. Dents are often caused by hail or intense debris and appear as tiny circles and indentations. Hail can also cause dents in other sections of a roof including the flashing, vents, and even gutters. It is best to have a professional inspection done shortly after a large hail storm to address the damage.
Debris from storms
While storms can cause damage to your shingles due to hail and wind, you also have to look out for debris. Strong storms can cause branches to break and trees to fall. If a tree falls on your roof you know you’re in trouble, but sometimes all it takes is a smaller branch to cause some damage. Branches can also lift shingles and leave dents and marks of their own. If a tree or a larger branch falls on your roof you are at risk of more significant damage. Sometimes this damage goes beyond the surface level and can actually affect your roof’s decking, gutters, or other important components.
Gutter Issues
Another thing to be aware of is the state of your gutters. Gutters are important because they protect your home from the elements by systematically moving it away from your roof. Over the years you will notice that objects such as leaves, dirt, and sticks will pile up in your gutters. When the issues start is when your gutters become blocked entirely. When clogged, the water on your roof ends up pooling up and even overflowing, not being allowed to drain properly. Checking for this is easy, all you have to do is look outside during the next rainstorm and see if you notice any water pooling over the edge of your roof. It’s recommended that you have your gutters cleaned out by a professional at least once a year, ideally in the springtime, to prevent this from happening.
The damage from overflowing gutters can cause a variety of different issues to occur such as mold forming in your attic and home, damage to the foundation of your home, and even flooding. Repairing any of these types of issues will cost you way more money than it would to just have your gutters cleaned. Maintenance may seem like a pesty annoyance, but it is extremely important and should be taken seriously.
We also want to note that it is important to look out for actual gutter damage as well. Gutters can easily be damaged from storms where debris lands on your roofs.
Issues within the home
There are also some ways you can spot roof damage from the inside of your home. One way you can do this is by spotting any leaks. It may seem obvious but it’s worth covering. If you spot a leak in your ceiling it’s important to reach out to a professional roofer right away to prevent the water from spreading. Another thing to look for is any type of water stains on your ceilings as this is another sign of a leaky roof. Water stains are often accompanied by mold or a bubbling appearance in the ceiling. While there are temporary fixes you can do to fix the aesthetic of your home from the inside, you will need to contact a roofing professional to actually fix the damage and prevent it from spreading.
Another sign of roof damage you can spot from within the home is having weak ventilation. Having weak ventilation is often a dead giveaway that something is wrong with your roof. One way to tell if this is happening is if you receive an energy bill that is way higher than normal. Energy bills increase because there is trapped air in your attic which encourages moisture and fluids to accumulate over time. Your home’s HVAC system will need to work much more hard to then properly cool down or heat up your house. Roofing goes beyond the physical roof and it is important to keep your eyes open to signs like these.
What to do if you notice roof damage
If you notice visible damage to your roof from the street or go up on your roof yourself, which we don’t recommend, here is what we suggest. It is best to call a professional roofing company as soon as possible so they can come out and inspect your roof. Once inspected they will go over the damages with you as well as what necessary repairs have to be made. We said it before but we can not stress it enough, do not put off having roof damage repaired. Roof damage never gets better on its own and it also often does not stay in the condition it’s in. Instead, it will spread and can affect more than just the top layer. The bottom line is to address roofing issues as they come up to avoid further complications.
We also want to mention that it is a bad idea to dry to DIY fix roof damage on your own without any professional training. What may seem like a solution can easily just be a surface-level fix, allowing the damage to spread to other areas of your roof and home. There is no easy way out of roofing damage, so it’s best to approach it correctly the first time around.
Wrapping it up
We understand that roof damage never occurs at a convenient time, but addressing it quickly is important and can be the difference between getting the full life out of your roof and not. Having routine inspections at least once a year can help you spot damage and address it before it has a chance to get worse. It’s also better to be safe than sorry so do not hesitate to have an inspection shortly after a severe storm hits, even if it’s not too long since your last one.
We hope you have a better understanding of what signs a damaged roof may show. We believe that it is important for homeowners to educate themselves on roofing so they can properly care for their roofs and maximize their investment. That is why we created our Learning Hub where we post new roofing content weekly on all realms of it. If you want to learn more about roofing and important tips, be sure to check out some of our other articles!
We are here to help
At Liberty Roofworks we have over 20 years of professional roofing experience under our belts and we are no strangers to handling roof damage. Whether you are in need of an obvious repair or are weary of damage being present after a large storm, we will be more than happy to help you out.
Are you in need of a roof repair? Please contact us today and we will gladly send out one of our professional roofers to perform an inspection and let you know their findings. We are happy to answer any questions you may and we always keep our customers informed throughout their entire time working with us. We understand that roof damage needs to be addressed promptly which is why we do our best to get the job done as quickly as possible, while still being precise and ensuring a high-quality repair.
We are happy to help!