Roof repair and replacement are so essential if you want to maintain that appealing aesthetics of your home. Investing in roof maintenance and repairs of your home will yield loads of return on investment both in the short and long run. The question now remains how you can know if you’ll indeed need to have your roof repaired or replaced. When is the best time to have a roofing professional take a look at your roof? Well, you can always call a roofing contractor and get your roof checked. But to carry out the inspection yourself, here are what to look out for;
The action of fungi or algae mostly causes dark or stained patches on the roof. These microorganisms tend to inhabit such areas, and in turn, the abnormal coloration on some areas on the roof will be visible. In warm and humid climates, this problem is an everyday incident. This can be a huge challenge for your roof as the algae or mold starts to feed on the shingle base, causing them to loosen and decay. On inspecting your roof, if you notice any dark or green patches on your roof, contact a reliable roofing contractor to inspect your roof and determine if the stains are indeed algae growth and to what extent. It’s wise to address any potential mold growth on time before it gets to spread to other parts of the roof, costing you more in the end.
Several factors can lead to the decline of shingles or the worst-case scenario, sheathing of a roof. One of these factors is the action of algae and mold. These organisms, once they inhabit the roof area, will source they food from the organic base of shingles leading to shingle decay. Due to inadequate inspection and maintenance culture of most homeowners, this may go unnoticed until the sheathing panels are affected. By then, it’s already a little late. If this connection is weak, then it makes your roof even more vulnerable to the effects of high winds during storms. Eventually, the roof integrity will be compromised in the end. If you noticed signs of sagging in some spots, it could be an indicator of a more dangerous roof problem, known as roof rot. This condition can lead to the possible collapse of your roof. It is, therefore, in your best interest to be able to spot this on time and invest in roof repair than in total roof renovation.
Any or a combination of these signs is a potential pointer that your roofing shingles have passed its useful life, or it’s on the verge of it. Though, in most cases, prolonged exposure of the roofing system to many unfavorable elements can have a great toil on the roof. A good number of roofing materials can last as long as 25 to 30 years. However, as most of its coating that protects the roofing material from the harsh rays of sunlight gets to wear off, constant exposure of the shingles can lead to cracks and curls formation. Most times, these cracks can cause the shingles to eventually break and fly off the roof or buckle during storms and high winds.
Peeling off of colors is one of the most uncomplicated warning pointers to spot. It does not require any special skills or any further action before you can spot it. However, some people tend to ignore this sign or, in most cases, misinterpret it to be something other than what its actual cause is. Blistering and peeling off of paints usually result from excessive moisture or relatively high humidity, which can be traced down to poor ventilation or lack of proper insulation from the attic. When hot airs are trapped in the attic, without adequate insulation, they tend to build up in the attic. This excess heat not just gets to ‘bake’ the roofing shingles, but can cause blistering and peeling of the exterior paint around the gables and eaves and even the siding. Let your local roofer help you with installing attic fans and probably bathroom exhausts.
Most of the signs for potential roof repairs and replacement are best observed from the building’s interior. These internal indicators are closer to you than you realize. Roof leaks are one of such pointers. One thing about roof leaks is that in most cases, they tend to be hard to detect earlier until they have caused some costly damage. Tracing its origin is another work altogether. Roof leaks can be caused by insufficient underlayment or deteriorating flashing, which costs little to repair. If you fail to tackle this condition early, it can lead to worse conditions that will gulp down more of the resources to fix. As mentioned earlier, the origin of a leak can be an unnerving task to detect, that’s the more reason you have to rely on the services of a professional roofing contractor to run the roof inspection for you.
Moreover, a little crack on the roof, if not canceled, will lead to griever problems. In the general scene, it might lead to complete damage to the roofing shingles. Instead of roof repairs, full roof replacement may be required.
In recent times, more homes are built with energy efficiency involved in the general building design. From the choice of building materials and appliances used to construct the roofing of most homes, you can easily see some signs of the ‘green initiative.’ The older homes are not left out of this fuss. However, when you experience any spike in your energy bills, your roof may be the cause. If your attic isn’t functioning as it supposed to, warm air can build up, causing the utility bills to rise in the summer and the winter as well. A well-installed roof makes for ample ventilation. Get a roofing specialist to inspect the ventilation in your attic and save a lot in energy.
When it comes to your roof repair, replacement, and maintenance, never you second guess. Always work with the best roofing contractor around.
