Signs Your Roof Is In Trouble -- You Should Never Ignore

With the recent heavy rains, we've received a great number of phone calls from homeowners experiencing roof leaks.  A few questions we routinely ask when a homeowner calls for help is; when did they first notice any signs of leaking and how old is their roof? 

Shingles do wear out eventually, so it's no big surprise when a leak springs up about the time your shingles have reached the end of their life cycle and need to be replaced.  What surprises us in the roofing business, however, is how often homeowners have noticed a leak --  weeks, months, or even years ago, and didn't recognize it as being a major red flag that their roof was in trouble.  Ignoring the red flags could end up being a costly mistake. 

Caught early enough, a simple repair might be able to address the issue before it becomes a leak inside your home.  When these roofing red flags pop up, it's a smart idea to take notice and give us a call right away for a professional assessment:

• Warped or soft spots on your roof - If your roof deck is sagging, then it's probably time to replace your roof.  Your roof may not be structurally sound and requires expert roofing attention.
• Loss of granulation (your gutters are filled with granules), broken, cracking or missing shingles should be replaced as soon as possible.  If the damage is localized, roofing repairs might be able to address the problem.  More extensive damage or normal wear and tear depending on the age of your roof might necessitate a complete roof replacement.
• Flashing is a common source of roof leaks.  Let our experts check for tears and buckling around roof penetrations.  Chimney flashing is especially prone to tearing and is our most common flashing repair.
• If water stains or spots appear, darken or grow in size after it rains on the ceiling or walls inside the home, as well as exterior walls, the roof is likely the culprit and should be investigated by a roofing professional right away.
• An attic that's not vented properly can heat up the roof and consequently heat up the underside of the shingles.  The heat can cause the shingles to age faster and start to curl -- the corners turn up or the shingles look wavy.  The attic may contribute to the problem, but it won't cause the problem by itself.
• Ice dams are caused by freeze and thaw cycles that allow ice to build up on the roof and block melting snow from draining off.  Ensuring the attic is well-insulated can help prevent ice dams from forming, because it helps to stop warm air from escaping into the attic and melting snow on the roof.  Proper attic ventilation can also prevent them from keeping the attic cooler.

  Ignoring these signs is never a good idea.  Call us today for a professional roof checkup!