Have you practiced to have periodic checks on your building roofs conditions?
You’d be surprised, actually the most of the people that neglect their roofs until it’s too late and they have problems which they can no longer ignore the repairing of damaged roofs.
No matter how much cost you spent during installation, after few years of being under sun-light, raging storms, Dirty environmental, land vibrations, it’s bound to have weaknesses, and building structural wear and tear. It’s advisable to inspect your roof on at-least yearly basis to avoid major roofing problems later on. If a simple roof leakage is not rectified in timely manner, it could cause a big loss.
So, to avoid this roof problems, we’ll share with you some common roof problems and how you can fix them.
1. Roof Leaks problem
Roof leaking issues are generally the most common roofing problems plaguing most homeowners. The leaks could be a result of many roof issues, such as broken shingles.
Mostly, you’ll find leaks near the chimney, around gutters, at flashing points, and close to vents or pipes.
The water leak is usually located several feet away from the penetration, and the best way to track by checking the attic. Go to the attic with a flashlight and check for water stains, mold, or black marks.
If it’s a vaulted ceiling and you can’t get to the attic, you can only see the issue on the roof. The best way to fix it is having a professional roofer take care of it.
2. Damaged Flashing
Flashing is a material made of plastic or sheet metal and is used to protect creases on fixtures such as skylights or chimneys.
Flashing is also used to preserve venting pipes under your roofing materials. If this flashing material cracks or becomes loose, the fixtures become vulnerable to water and moisture.
Inspect all the areas with flashing and if you detect any of it cracked, replace it with a new one.
You may need to remove some of the surrounding materials, such as the shingles for both removal and installation. If you can’t do this, then a roofing contractor can help.
3. Damaged Roofing Materials
These could be anything from shingles, tiles, nails, sealants among others.
Nature is a major contributing factor to a deteriorating roof, and the best solution here is regular maintenance. Some of the issues need to be caught fast before they cause other severe problems.
For instance, holes can lead to moisture seeping in the roof and causing damage. Shrinking roofing materials can crack and deteriorate, and the flashing could be pulled apart.
4. Granules Clogging Downspouts
When the roof is relatively new, you may notice some granules that may have fallen during installation. However, if your roof is relatively old and you see granules in your downspout, then it’s a sign that your shingles are getting weak and may need to be replaced.
Granules are an essential part of the roof because they protect it from UV rays, and once they fall off, the shingles are vulnerable and start to crack.
One of the first signs of falling granules is clogging in the gutters. Unless of course, you have so much debris such as leaves and twigs blocking your gutters, chances are they are granules, and you need to have them replaced.
5. Freezing Damages
If you live in an area where your roof is continuously exposed to ice and snow, then it has a reduced life expectancy. Roofing problems are most common during cold weather.
The thing is when ice water melts, it doesn’t run off fast enough since it melts at a slow rate. This can pass as stagnant water which penetrates underneath the roof and causes issues.
Even worse, during cold weather, the water that gets underneath can also freeze when temperatures drop.
When water freezes, it expands and pushes against the shingles, which leaves an opening that lets even more water in. By the time warm weather comes along, you have so many roofing problems.
Preventing this may not be easy since you can’t avoid the weather, but you should check on the roof regularly before damages are too far gone.
6. Stagnant or Pooling Water
If your gutters are clogged and the piles of debris on the roof catch water, the moisture collects and forms stagnant or pooling water, which can damage your roof.
Standing water quickly turns into mold or mildew, which eats away the roofing material, causing roofing problems.
If you have a flat roof, you should be concerned about stagnant water. The solution here is to create tapered areas over the surface, which allow the water to run off. Having a professional contractor check on your roof regularly will help you avoid long-term problems.
7. Tree Damaged Roof
One of the most common roof problems homeowners face is damage from falling branches.
You may think that only large branches would damage your roof, but when smaller branches come in contact with your roof and rub against it for a prolonged period, they erode the top layer of the roof.
The solution here is to trim your tree branches when they reach the roof.
If the tree poses a serious threat, then cut it down and replant a tree somewhere else more so when you live in an area prone to winds and storms.
8. Broken or Missing Shingles on Roof-Top
If the sealant attaching your shingles wears off, it tends to loosen and break or come off completely. The sealant may be damaged by force of nature, rodents, or wear and tear.
Depending on the age of your roof, shingles may start tearing off, which should be expected.
This is an easy problem to fix because all you have to do is replace the shingle. Some stores even sell single shingles if that’s what you need, or you can get a box and replace several that seem to cause problems. If you’re a handyman, you can replace the shingles yourself.
Schedule a routine roof maintenance check with a roofing contractor so they can detect these issues before they escalate.
Take Action for Roofing Problems Before It’s Too Late!
These are some of the most common roofing problems and solutions that help you maintain your roof.
Have you noticed a leak that you don’t know how to fix?
Do you feel like this is a great time to have a roof maintenance check?
Maybe you have several roofing problems you want solved. Kindly get in touch with us and our professional roofing contractors will provide you a free quote.