Signs That Your Roof Needs Repairs

The roof is often the most ignored portion of your home. Unless it starts showing some drastic signs, you are unlikely to notice anything going wrong. If your roof gets damaged, it could cost you a large amount of money you weren’t prepared to spend. So what is the solution? Should you climb up there and see for yourself?

According to industry experts at Red Canyon Roofing, a roofing company in Longmont, Colorado, it is inadvisable to look for any damage signs if you don’t know what you’re doing. This is because you could potentially hurt yourself if you don’t see what you’re doing. It doesn’t mean that you always have to seek a professional to find out what’s wrong. You may keep an eye out for some signs in your house that could indicate roof damage. Let’s look at some of these signs.

Leakage During Rains

Leakage is one of the most commonly experienced signs of roof damage. But leaks during rain aren’t as stereotypical as they may be portrayed. You will rarely have water dripping on your head in the living room, but you can see signs of this happening in the attic. It would be best if you got this fixed immediately as even a little bit of water will force its way into the cracks in the roof and expand or contract based on temperature changes.

Sunlight Coming In

Another common sign of roof damage may be the existence of small holes through which sunlight comes in. You can easily miss this sign in unfrequented rooms, like the attic. The ideal way to check for this is to cover up all the windows at noon and turn off all the lights in the rooms with a direct roof overhead. Once the room is nice and dark, look up, and if you see small lights or even sparkles, your roof has holes.

Moisture Clues

As mentioned earlier, leakage is not an apparent problem. It would be best if you kept an eye out for it. Other than dripping water, you need to keep an eye out for moisture in unexpected places. If you see a small puddle of water in the house after a rainstorm where everything else is dry, you have a leak. If you find mildew growing on the boxes in the attic, then you have a leak.

Paint Stains

When water starts leaking through the roof, it tends to soak into the ceiling’s surface and the walls. This will show itself as small rings near the ceiling that are yellow or green. They can also manifest as colored lines on your walls that resemble a streak. These are signs of advanced water damage, which means that you need to call a professional immediately.

High Electricity Bills

Water is not the only thing that leaks through the roof. If your roof has holes, then hot and cold air from inside your house will circulate outside. This means that you will need to keep increasing or decreasing the temperature on the thermostat. While this may be gradual at first, you will be surprised at the amount your monthly bills can increase. There might be many other reasons for this increase, but a hole-riddled roof is one of them.

Paint Peeling

While stains by themselves are pretty bad signs of roof damage, when the paint starts peeling off, then you know you have a big problem. This means that the water has seeped into your walls. Another sign is if your ceiling appears to be sagging. If there is a lump in your ceiling, then that lump is filled with water indicating severe water damage. Signs like these are indicative of the fact that the roof has been leaking for quite some time.

Visible Damage

Roofing experts like Red Canyon Roofing strongly stress that you should not be adventurous when checking for signs of damage on your roof. If you want to check your roof, it’s best to do it from a ladder or a safe distance.

Keep an eye out for any broken, cracked, or missing shingles, as this is where moisture generally tends to enter your house. If there is no damage to the shingles and chimney, but you can see mold and mildew, then your roof is already damaged from the inside.

To Wrap Up

Roof damage is a severe issue that affects the entirety of your home. On average, you should have your roof inspected at least once every two years. Many people don’t replace their roofs for up to 20 years.

While every problem does not require a full replacement, it still needs tune-ups under professional supervision. All you need to do is keep an eye out for any signs discussed above, and you’ll be able to detect problems before it’s too late.