At one point or another, homeowners will encounter an issue with their roof. Just as with every other part of the home, your roof will wear down over time, especially if you’ve have nasty storms roll through.
The roof is not something you want to mess around with or taking your time addressing. A simple leak can quickly turn into a disaster if left alone. Roof problems don’t go away; they get worse.
Keep tabs on the look of the roof and anything happening inside. If you notice one of the following six common roof issues, it may be time to hire a professional.
Leaks
Most likely, the most common issue you’ll come across as a homeowner is a leak in the roof. A leak can stem from many different sources, including a broken shingle, broken weatherstripping, and broken seal around skylights. It doesn’t take long for a simple leak to turn into something bigger, or to cause serious damage to the inside of your home.
Broken Shingles
The shingles on your roof have a lifespan. For basic asphalt shingles, you can get away with having shingles last between 15 and 18 years; other types can last up to 30 years. After that, it’s time to inspect them to see what needs replacing.
Broken shingles can come from several issues, including:
- Heavy sun exposure
- Large temperature variations
- Harsh storms
- Trees and other debris
- Poor installation
- Material quality
Clogged Gutters
Gutters serve a significant purpose in protecting the foundation of your home. After a heavy rainstorm, if there are no gutters, the water would simply pour off your roof and fall anywhere it wanted. The gutters collect the water and guide it to an area away from the foundation of your home.
If the gutters are clogged, it prevents the water from flowing down and away from your house. The water can pool on the roof, which can lead to serious damage.
Tree Damage
Something you don’t want happening to your roof – a falling tree. As much as we love having trees in our yards for various reasons, if the branches come into contact with the roof, and can cause damage to the shingles and wear down the surface of the roof. Keeping your trees trimmed will help prevent any contact between the roof and the trees.
Ice Buildup
Not very often will you hear someone say that ice is a good thing, unless it’s in a cube for your drink. Otherwise, ice in other places like the ground and on the roof will only lead to trouble.
Ice buildup can damage the shingles on the roof. Not only that, once it melts, it turns into water that can seep underneath the shingles and damage not just the shingles, but the structure underneath it.
Poor Installation
Poorly installed roofs are never a good idea. Same with using low-quality materials. For the roof of your house, it’s a project you want to invest in and spend the money on the best materials. Otherwise, you’re left with a roof that won’t do its job (protect the house below), and will only have you spending more money to fix it down the road.
If you come across a roof issue, for your own safety, it’s best to call a professional to do the job for you. Fixing a roof can be dangerous, but it is a necessary task to do. Pay attention to the common issues listed above and fix them as quickly as possible.
