Your roof serves the dual function of protecting your home and making it look good as well. According to Style Roofing, it’s estimated that the roof of your home constitutes about 40% of your home’s visual exterior. This means that the roof has a huge impact on the overall aesthetic of your home. For this reason, it’s crucial to ensure that it stays in good shape. The best way to do this is to keep up with your roof’s maintenance needs. However, sometimes your roof will still develop problems due to normal wear and tear. Here are some signs that you need roof repairs as soon as possible.
Roof Leaks
A roof leak is one of the most obvious signs that you need to fix your roof. The majority of roof leaks are caused by people, problems with seams, neglect, rooftop equipment, and weather. When dealing with the roof, prevention is often better than trying to fix something last minute. However, in some instances, no matter how hard you try to keep up with preventative measures and maintenance, your roof can still develop leaks. On the other hand, neglect is the quickest way to develop problems with your roof. Ignoring your roof’s maintenance requirements often leads to disastrous consequences. For instance, you may end up having to do an entire re-roof.
It’s crucial to ensure that you call a roofing contractor as soon as you notice leaks on your roof. Ignoring these leaks can lead to several problems, including the following:
Deterioration of Structural Materials – If you don’t quickly address roof leaks, they can cause serious damage to things like ceiling joints, rafters, and wall framing. If the wood on your roof is constantly exposed to moisture, it will start to deteriorate. This can even lead to the collapse of the structural support over time.
Mold – This is another reason why you need to ensure that roof leaks are fixed as soon as possible. Wet wood will start to rot at some point. Also, as long as moisture is present, the growth of fungal organisms is inevitable. Fungal organisms not only cause health problems but also speed up the deterioration of wood. If the mold keeps growing, it will end up reaching the HVAC system, where it can react with different substances in the air to create toxins which lead to asthmatic issues and a variety of respiratory illnesses.
Expensive Repairs – As your roof structure keeps getting weak because of water exposure, you will eventually have to repair it. However, if you do this after ignoring the problem for a while, the damage will become quite expensive to fix. For these reasons, it’s crucial to order roof repairs as soon as you notice leaks.
Skyrocketing Energy Bills
Are your energy costs gradually increasing? The first thing you might want to do is take an energy audit of your home. This way, you can have a general idea of what’s causing the rise in energy costs. In some instances, you can discover that it’s your roof. There are several ways that your roof can decrease your home’s energy efficiency.
When air leaks from holes in your roof, it will make it difficult for your HVAC system to maintain steady interior temperatures. In order to keep your comfort, your HVAC system will have to work extra hard. This is what causes the rise in energy bills. One of the ways you can fix this problem is to add or repair insulation. Insulation is what keeps the warmth inside and the cold winter air from seeping in. With time, your insulation can get damaged or worn away. A roofing contractor can inspect your insulation to find out if it’s thick or durable enough to keep warm air inside. By fixing your insulation, you can save up to 600 dollars per year on energy costs.
Repairing the insulation on your roof can fix other problems that are not related to energy costs. For instance, it can also help to prevent leaks and ice dams. These issues can also become quite costly to repair if you don’t fix them as soon as possible. They can also lead to further complications like roof cracks and structural damage to your home.
Another thing that you might need to look at if you want to improve your roof’s energy efficiency is ventilation. While you might fix your insulation to prevent air from leaving home, it’s a fact that even a perfectly insulated roof will still have some outside air leaking into the home. To counter the effect of this outside air, you need proper ventilation. This will ensure that air is evenly distributed throughout the home and isn’t concentrated in one location. And just like with proper insulation, proper ventilation can also help prevent ice dam creation.
Damaged, Curled or Missing Shingles
It’s important to inspect your room visually from time to time. Apart from looking at the roof itself, you also need to check the ground to see if there are any signs of shingle debris. These basic inspections can help you notice problems with your shingles. As soon as you notice that some of your shingles are missing, curled, or damaged, you should hire a roofing company to do a more comprehensive inspection. While it might be tempting to climb on the roof to take a closer look, this may not be so advisable. Working on the roof poses a serious threat of danger, and you must only do so if you are experienced and if you have the right safety equipment.
If you doubt your abilities or you don’t have the proper equipment, you must contact a roofing company to handle your roof work. The roofing company will tell you the extent of damage and what needs to be done. In most instances, if the shingle damage has been caused by weather, you may just need to purchase replacement shingles. It’s important to take your time when looking for a roofing contractor to fix your shingles. Most people start by performing an internet search. If you take this route, make sure you check out reviews and testimonials so you can work with the best roofer for your needs.
Shingle damage can also be a sign that your roof is old and needs replacement. Most roofs have a lifespan of 20 years or so, depending on the materials used. If your roof is older than 20 years and you keep noticing missing shingles, it may be a good idea to replace the roof entirely. This will make all your roof problems go away for a while. You will save a lot of money on roof repairs this way. Apart from that, a new roof greatly boosts the value of your home.
These are some signs that you need roof repairs. One of the best ways to take care of your roof is to order regular roof inspections. This way, any repair that needs to be done can be carried out before the problem gets complicated and expensive to fix. If you think your roof needs to be repaired, there are several ways to find a reliable roofing contractor. You can start by asking your friends or neighbors to find out if they can recommend anyone. If you can’t find anyone that way, you can just go online and search for a contractor near you. Get in touch with us today if you are looking for a reliable roofing company to handle roof repairs for you.
