5 Signs You May Need a Roof Repair
Once you’ve got a roof over your head, you probably expect it to stay there forever. After all, out of sight is out of mind—until a sudden torrent of water from above requires an urgent roof repair!
Fortunately, there are a few key signs you can look out for to prevent the worst from happening. The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends that homeowners do a roof inspection at least twice per year to avoid potential roof problems, so whether you do an informal inspection on your own or call a professional, these are a few key signs to watch for.
1. Your Roof Is Aging
One of the biggest signs that you’ll need a roof repair—or even a roof replacement—is an aging roof.
How can you tell how long your roof will last? The answer will depend on your chosen roofing materials, the grade and thickness of the materials themselves, the quality of the installation, your roof maintenance, and the warranty. If you don’t have your manufacturer’s literature lying around, here’s a basic guide to the life expectancy of different roofing materials:
- Asphalt shingle roofs: 10-20 years
- Composite roofs: 15-40 years
- Wood shingle roofs: 25-30 years
- Wood shake roofs: 35-40 years
- Metal roofs: 30-60 years
- Concrete roofs: 50-100 years
- Clay roofs: 50-100 years
- Slate roofs: 70-100 years
If you feel like you’re getting close to the end of your roof’s lifespan, you’ll want to be on higher alert for the possibility of the issues below, from leaks to structural damage.
2. Your Shingles Are Damaged
Your shingles serve to protect your roofing system as a whole, and even a few damaged shingles can have a huge impact.
It’s not always easy to see shingle damage from afar as you go about your day, but one easy way to do a quick inspection is by viewing your roof while it’s in full sun. It’s easier to see irregular shadows from curled, buckling, or even missing shingles while the sun hits your roof. You should also be on the lookout for inconsistencies in coloring, which can be a sign that some of the protective material of your shingles has worn down.
In addition to these visual checks, you should also do a closer inspection during your seasonal gutter maintenance, which you should do each spring and fall. This is also a good time to look for any broken parts of your shingles that have washed into the leaves and debris in your gutters.
3. You’ve Noticed a Leak
Leaks are among the most common reasons to call for a roof service in the U.S., as they tend to be pretty easy for any homeowner to notice!
Even if you haven’t seen water dripping from your ceiling, there are plenty of signs that your roof is letting moisture in:
- Water stains on the ceiling
- Moisture or dripping on the walls
- Discoloration on the exterior walls of your home
- Moss or algae on an exterior wall
- Mold growth within your home
- Missing shingles
Another way to check for potential damage is to investigate your attic during a sunny day.
If you notice any sunlight getting into the area, it’s a sign that you’ll want to repair your roof. In addition, don’t forget to grab a flashlight and look for any areas of discoloration or staining as well. If you notice anything that needs inspection, contact an expert roof company like ProFormance Roofing for help.
4. Your Roof Is Retaining Moisture
When it comes to your roofing system, moisture is always the enemy. Too much water may seem like a minor issue, but it can contribute to some serious roofing problems down the line, so it’s important to tackle any moisture-related roof repairs right away.
One key sign of too much moisture is a sagging or drooping roof. This can happen when moisture becomes trapped within your roofing materials or their support structures, and it can even lead to rotting over time.
In addition, you’ll want to be on the lookout for plant life like moss, fungi, and algae. These might appear as greenish plant growth, or you might notice darker discolorations across the surface of your roof.
These nuisances may seem like simple cosmetic problems, but they can actually help trap moisture within your roof. If you aren’t diligent about cleaning them off—which is a straightforward task you can do with tools you have around the house—they might cause irreparable damage to your roof.
5. Your Flashing Is Damaged
Your roof flashing has an essential job: it seals up small gaps between different sections of your roof system, ensuring that moisture, debris, and even pests can’t get into your home. As you can imagine, issues with your flashing can expose your roof to long-term damage.
If you notice that the flashing around your seams, chimney, and vents has started to deteriorate, call for a roof repair as soon as possible. You may also want to upgrade your flashing if you’ve bought an older home: roofers used to use tar or cement flashing, but today’s metal flashing has a longer lifespan and better durability.
Know the Signs You Need Roof Repair
The first step to a healthy roof is a solid understanding of when you should call for roof repair. Keeping the common signs above in mind can help you identify potential problems with your roof before they spiral out of control, allowing you to protect your investment and even lengthen its lifespan. Be sure to reach out to a reputable contractor in your area for more specific insights!
Want to make the most of your house and home? Be sure to take a look at our other posts for additional quick tips.
