Signs That Your Roof Need Repairs
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Learn about the repair issues that can lead to serious roofing problems.
Your roof protects your home and its contents from rain, snow and sunlight, so it’s imperative to keep it in good working condition. Because your roof is a complex structure that’s exposed 24-7 to nature’s elements, there are a variety of roofing issues that can occur.
It’s also important to address small problems before they lead to larger — and more costly — ones. Early spring and summer are great times to assess your roof to see if replacement or repair is needed. Below are some important details on common roofing issues and what their presence can suggest:
Buckling shingles
When the shingles buckle, it means that moisture is underneath them.This can occur when new shingles are placed on top of old shingles or if the new roof was not properly installed. Buckled or buckling shingles can also be a sign of poor ventilation. This can often signal that a new roof is needed.
Water spots on your ceiling
Discolored spots on your ceilings can be caused by water coming from leaks in your roof. The damage doesn’t stop with the unsightly spots. Left ignored, major water damage can occur and a homeowner can be forced to also replace interior home features such as ceilings or drywall.
Curling shingles
There are several reasons this can happen. One reason is that the roofer disregarded the manufacturer’s recommendations for how may nails to use per shingle.
Another reason is when a roof is inadequately insulated, moisture may build up in a home’s attic. Because it needs to go somewhere, it will slowly become trapped between the underlayment and shingles. Each shingle has an adhesive strip that connects it to the row below it. If that strip, called back coating, is not properly attached to the row below it, curling can occur.
Weather elements cause your roof to expand and contract. During this process, the nails holding your shingles down can be forced upwards which can cause shingles to curl.
Roof rotting
Roofs begin to rot when the shingles have absorbed moisture all the way to the core. This is a serious matter and should be addressed as quickly as possible by a roofing professional.
Missing shingles
This problem often occurs in the spring and cast be the result of high winds, or ice or snow damage. Another possibility is that shingles were not installed correctly. Regardless, it’s important to call a roofing professional to get your roof back to its original condition. An untrained person trying to do this on their own can incorrectly replace the shingles, which can cause your roof to leak.
Missing granules
When a roof is first replaced, it’s normal to have some granules (small ceramic coated rock specs that cover an asphalt shingle’s surface) dislodged from the shingles. However, if this continues, your roof’s lifespan will be greatly decreased because the asphalt on your shingle has been exposed to weather elements. If you are noticing this problem on an older roof, it’s likely that it needs to be replaced.
Blistering
Blisters, which look like bubbles just under the surface of your shingle’s granules, are caused by moisture trapped in a shingle. The shingle may not need to be replaced until it breaks open. Once a shingle breaks open, it may become discolored and water leakage may become as issue.
Flashing that is damaged
Roof flashing is a piece of sheet metal placed on the joints in a roof to keep water from seeping into the structure and is installed before the shingles. Flashing that has not been installed correctly or is damaged can cause leaking. In some cases, flashing can be replaced in the damaged area only.
Blog Source: Angie’s List | Does Your Roof Need Repairs?
