When do you think is the right time to pay attention to your home’s roofing and consider getting a roofing repair or replacement? Is it only when it nears its shelf life? Wrong. There are several other instances when you need to look at your home roofing closely. Here are a few telltale signs that signal that your roof needs attention and possibly roofing repair too.
Look on the inside of your home’s roof. Do you see some areas that you feel are bulging inwards? Or do you see a portion that is lower than the rest of your ceiling? If yes, this is a major concern. The causes of sagging or bulging roof or ceiling can be many. The UV rays of the sun can weaken the roof surface over time. Besides this, the age of your roof, exposure to rain and snow, and problems with rafters and joists also result in bulged, bent, or sagging roof. If ignored, this problem will eventually lead to collapse and other hazardous consequences. So make sure you call your roofing repair experts and get the issue addressed at the earliest.
Although it may seem very normal and common, this issue isn’t something that you must ignore. If your home’s roofing is more than two decades old, you are more likely to face this issue. If you have asphalt shingles on your roof, and you notice granules of asphalt flowing down with water, this is a serious concern. Shingles shed their granules over time due to exposure to the elements, leaving them defenceless against the sun. Bald shingles compromise your roof’s protection, making you vulnerable to leaks and other issues. This isn’t a common sight for homes that recently got new asphalt roofing installed.
When you go up in the attic and find roofing leaks, it can be due to several reasons; damaged shingles and base roof surface being the most common reason. Leaks can also occur when the eavestrough is clogged, and water backs up on the roof because there is no place for water to leave the roof. If the fasteners and nails that keep the roofing materials in place are displaced or missing, water can enter through the holes created and result in leaks inside your house. If your roof is leaking, it is likely that you have already waited longer than you should have. If you have a leaky roof, you better get roofing repair immediately, even if it doesn’t bother you much or you’re getting a new roof next year. Even over a short time, small leaks can lead to big problems.
Mould and moss growth on the roofing surface, whether on the outside or inside, are the major signs that signal that your roof has been attacked by moisture. When water makes its way to the inner layers of the roof, it can lead to wet patches and further to mould and moss growths. Unfortunately, there’s no way to mould- or fungi-proof your roofing system, but investing in professional roof cleaning can rid you of the issue. You can easily spot mould growths when they appear on the inner surface of the roof. But identifying mould growth on the outer surface is difficult as you cannot, and you shouldn’t, go up on your roof. Dark streaks of water flowing from the roof can be the only way to identify this issue.
The shingles on your home’s roof can get damaged due to external factors and age. Heavy winds, storms, rainfall, hailstones, or other natural factors can result in dented, broken, or cracked shingles. Not only this but if you live in a storm-prone area, trees in the vicinity can fall on the roof and damage shingles and other parts of your roofing. And if nothing of this sort happens, shingles can get curled up, bulged, or cracked over the years. When shingles are damaged, the lower layers of the roof are exposed. Flashing, insulation material, and roof’s surface are exposed to external factors. When it rains or snows, water can easily make its way into your house through these exposed spaces and result in mould growths and leakages. Therefore, you must call your roofing expert to inspect the roof every three months to identify any damaged shingles (and other components too) and perform necessary roofing repair work.
Most of the homes in Canada are installed with skylights, chimneys, eavestroughs, and other roofing accessories. These accessories are intact and properly secured if they are installed well. But if they aren’t, you will soon experience leakages in your house the next time it rains or snows. This happens because the connection between these accessories and the roof’s surface aren’t packed properly. Even a slight gap between the two is more than enough for water to make its way inside your home. Even if the installations were made correctly, over time, the caulking material that holds the installations in place depletes. And this is how water gets a passage to enter. If you notice water leaking from where the chimney or skylight is installed, then understand that it is because of a loose connection up there. Call the expert at the earliest and get the right roofing repair before things go out of your control.
When you go up to the attic of your house and see beams of light passing through the roof on a bright sunny day, it is a matter of concern. A beam of light can only enter your house if there’s a passage for it to pass. And no matter what the passage is, it is going to be a concern for you. Missing or damaged shingles, missing or damaged flashing, cracks and holes in the roof’s base surface, loose connections, etc. are some of the most significant reasons.
Make sure you call your roofing expert, let them inspect the roof every three months to identify any issues and get the best roofing repair done in time to avoid any mishaps.