Your roof is one of the most important areas of your home, and yet it’s also one of the least thought about or looked at. Most roofing types are very low maintenance, which is both a blessing and, as time goes on, a bit of a curse. You do still need to maintain your roof, even if it’s just a matter of clearing out the gutters and making sure debris like fallen leaves doesn’t stay stuck to your roof for long periods of time.
Even without those common chores, roofs naturally deteriorate. Between the sun, wind, and rain, there’re more than enough climate causes at hand. That’s why, on top of cleaning out the gutters and doing the few maintenance jobs on your roof to keep it in good shape, you also need to keep an eye out for these common issues.
1. Roof Leaks
If your roof is leaking, you must deal with it as soon as possible. While a leak for a day won’t do any lasting damage, ongoing leaks can lead to wood rot that, in turn, handicaps your entire roof’s structure. Leaks also cause issues like mold and dampness, which can then affect your and your family’s respiration. Leaks, if caught early, are relatively easy to fix, so call an expert if you notice water damage anywhere near your ceiling.
2. Lost Shingles
Shingles can get blown off during particularly high winds. Sun can also cause damage over time and make asphalt shingles brittle. Regardless of why you’ve lost your shingles, it’s important you have them replaced quickly. You may be able to just replace the missing tiles, or you may need to replace all the shingles at once; it will ultimately depend on the age of your roof.
3. Hail Damage
Bad storms often result in roof damage. If there has been a hail storm recently, get up on your ladder to see how your shingles made it through. If there are shingles that have gouges carved out of them from where the ice hit, it’s time to call for some replacements.
4. Roof Rot
If you spot mold growing along your gutters or the structural joints of your roof, then know the problem also likely exists underneath the shingles, too. Roof or wood rot is very serious, as it could lead to your roof collapsing on itself if left untreated.
5. Roof Sagging
The most dangerous of all issues is if there are areas where your roof looks like it’s caving in. Even if it’s just a slight dip, this is by far one of the signs of significant damage that could lead to your entire roof collapsing. In this case, your best bet is to get in touch with a top roofing company in Orlando or wherever you are located to get a quote for a new roof ASAP.
Maintaining and inspecting your roof needs to be a regular activity. In general, you’ll want to give your roof a look over once or twice per year. A good time to do it is when you clear out your gutters since you’ll be up close and personal with your roof during that time. If there’s an issue, no matter how small, have it fixed. This will prolong your roof’s life and prevent a catastrophe from hitting your home.
