A roof can endure a number of issues before it actually starts to show in the form of an unexpected skylight. If you want to protect your home, you must first know about the common problems and how to spot them. Assurance Residential wants you to know about the common threats, how problems get their start, and how you can stop them before they spin out of control.
1. Blown-Off/Damaged Shingles
Depending on the configuration of your roof, you might lose a couple of shingles before you even notice it. But the more common problem is to have lifted or damaged shingles due to extreme weather. High winds can pry the metal flashing and tiles up, destabilizing the roof and potentially inviting in everything from water to pests. Too much sun can cause cracking or breakage over time.
2. Tree Branches
Georgia weather can make everything more mobile than it originally seemed. So even if you’ve been vigilant about cutting back your branches and tearing down leaning trees, high-speed winds can make your roof more vulnerable than you think. From an incessant whipping of branches to a fallen limb, the extra pressure from the vegetation can eventually make the roof begin to sag.
3. Roof Leaks
One of the more difficult problems to ignore, roof leaks can cause serious water damage in a short period of time. Leaks can occur anywhere along the roof, even when your shingles are in relatively good shape. Even if you’re not dragging out buckets to catch the falling water though, you may still have a leak that’s going directly into your rarely used attic or crawlspace.
4. Damaged or Worn Flashing
The metal flashing of the roof is specifically built to withstand the degradation of time, but it’s also not made to last forever. If your roof is several decades old or it’s undergone a catastrophic event, then your flashing may need to be repaired or replaced.
5. Failing Granules
Asphalt shingles are built with tiny particles that will absorb the harmful UV rays of the sun. If they’ve begun to fall off though, it will start to show as bald patches on the roof. If your roof has swaths of discoloration, this could be a sign that you’re losing those all-important granules.
6. Damaged Gutters
If your gutters or downspouts are starting to fall away from the home, this can eventually end in tragedy for your roof and your home. Damaged gutters are just another way for water to end up in the home or to soak your lawn in all the wrong places. For some gutters and downspouts, it’s just a matter of unclogging and reattaching them, but others will need to be replaced before they put the home in any more danger.
7. Rotten Fascia Board or Soffit
This overhang on the home is a major target for water damage. Just one ice dam can cause enough disruption to the soffit or fascia board that it can begin to detach from the larger structure. From there, it only takes a short period of time before the rot quickly spreads. This is how you can end up getting squirrels and birds making nests in eaves of your home.
8. Too Many Roofing Layers
It may seem counterintuitive that too many layers would be a problem. (All those layers would seemingly add up to more barriers between you and the elements). But the reality is that the roof may not be able to sustain all that extra weight, which can ultimately leave it in peril.
9. Splitting
The roof may seem like a relatively static component of the home, but it’s actually shifting and changing all the time. For some roofs, the shingles will begin to expand when the weather starts to warm up, which can ultimately lead to their splitting. If those shingles are continuously bumping into one another, it can warp the roof entirely.
10. Animals
You may think that animals are only attracted to roofs that are falling apart, but this isn’t always the case. Animals that continuously try to burrow into your roof may eventually start to make some progress. Insects may find it even easier to break through to the other side.
Roofing Solutions
The solutions to your roofing problems are the solutions to nearly all your homeownership problems. It helps to pay attention to changes in your home and perform routine maintenance whenever necessary. Shingles may need to be replaced or repaired, the soffit or the flashing may need an upgrade, or you may need to reconsider the number of layers on your home.
The general advice for roof maintenance is to address problems as quickly as possible — even if you can only take care of part of the problem. In other words, a patch-up job is better than nothing. Leaving a problem for too long can ultimately endanger your whole home.
Taking on roofing problems isn’t necessarily easy for many homeowners though. Even a seemingly straightforward task can end in a serious fall. If you have a drone, you can consider using this as a safer means to identify your issues without having to get on a ladder. But there’s an option that might be even better than that.
Call A Pro
There’s a reason why people trust Assurance Residential to fix common roofing problems. We’ve proven time and time again that we have the skills, products, and know-how to take care of the many homes in our neighborhood. When you call us, you can expect every job to run like clockwork and to end in unparalleled safety for your home. We may make recommendations, but we never pressure or scare you into a service or product you don’t need or want. Whether you want us to inspect your roof or get to work, we’re here to help.
Our approach is honest, fair and pressure-free. We are a locally-owned business based in Lawrenceville, GA, and serving the surrounding areas, including Johns Creek, Buford and Duluth. Call us today at 404-600-ROOF or fill out our form to schedule a free consultation and estimate
