Roofs are undeniably an integral part of a building. When maintained, they can effectively protect you from harsh weather elements such as wind, cold, rain, and heat. It’s quite difficult to determine a roof’s condition simply by looking at it. Inspecting your roof regularly can help you cut repair and replacement costs in the future. If your roof has any problems, delaying the repairs will prove expensive in the long run. When spotted early, roofing fails can be cheaper to fix. Here are five common roofing fails and ways you can spot them:
Roof Leaks
Roof leaks are the most common roofing problems homeowners face. You can spot them in the form of cracked flashing or broken slate, tiles, or shingles. Depending on your roofing type, the leaks may take different forms. The most common places where roof leaks occur are at skylights, around gutters, and near the chimney. You can also spot them under damaged shingles, in low spots, close to pipes, vents, and flashing points.
Roofing Fails: Clogged Or Defective Gutters
When your gutters get clogged, rainwater collected will have nowhere to go. Instead, the water will fill the gutters to the maximum, and the gutters may tear or bend due to the extra weight. If you spot plant growth, staining on the siding, sagging gutters, or water spilling over the sides, there’s a great chance your gutters are clogged. Common gutter defects include improper sloping, leaks, and overflows. Walk around the house and look for leaks on the entire gutter system. Moving the hose to other parts of the gutter system can help you spot any defects in the system.
Several Loose Or Missing Shingles
If your roof is quite old, it can occasionally lose or have missing shingles. Replacing them with new ones can help fix this problem. Your roof may have a bigger problem if it’s missing many shingles.
Broken and missing shingles leave the roof vulnerable to ice, snow, and rain. The roof deck will start deteriorating when water takes hold of it. As a result, the nails on the other shingles will loosen, and the problem can spread to other areas.
Roofing Fails: Exposed Or Loose Nails
Nails are bound to pop out of the roof at times. However, if you notice several missing or loose nails on your roof, it may suggest a bigger problem. The nail holes may introduce water into your home and cause water damage.
Loose or exposed nails may suggest that the roof deck is deteriorating. The nails may also loosen when the wind blows the shingles up.
Signs Of Mold Where The Roof And Wall Meet
Check the spot where the roofing and exterior wall meet for signs of mold growth. Your roof should have a flashing under it to prevent water from seeping through the seam. If the water takes time to flow down the flashing, it can favor mold growth.
Any signs of mold growing where the exterior wall and roof meet suggest the presence of moisture. Mold growth itself suggests that your building is prone to water damage. Exposure to mold spores may also trigger allergic symptoms, including a runny nose, watery eyes, coughing, and itching.
What To Do About The Failing Roof
Once you spot any of these roof failures, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional roofing contractor. The specialist will thoroughly inspect your roof and inform you about the source of the problem. With their help, you can decide on repairs and replacements (if any are needed).
One Last Thought
Don’t wait until these roofing problems take a toll on your roof. Hiring a specialist at this time will be costly since the repair and replacement work will require lots of resources.
