Regardless of how durable it is, after years of raging storms and scorching sun, it’s bound to suffer from wear and tear over time. A roof may endure several issues before it starts to show major damage.
If you want to protect your house, it’s advisable to inspect your roof regularly. But before you take action and find the best roof repair service provider, you should first know the following common roofing problems and how to address them effectively:
1. Roof Leaks
A roof leak is the most common roofing problem that many homeowners deal with. The leaks might be due to many roof issues like broken shingles. More often than not, you’ll find leaks around the gutters, near the chimney, at the flashing points, and close to pipes or vents.
Usually, they are located a few feet away from the root cause, and a great way to track them is to check the attic. Go to your attic with a flashlight and check for black marks, mold, or water stains.
If you have a vaulted ceiling and you can’t check your attic, you can only see the problem on the roof. A perfect way to fix it is to have a roofing contractor take care of it.
2. Damaged Flashing
Your roof’s flashing helps keep such awkward or protruding areas protected and sealed from leaks or water damage. It’s installed in places around your chimney, venting pipes, cooling and heating systems, or any skylights located on the roof. That’s why it’s necessary to attach and secure it properly. Otherwise, it’ll cause inconvenience in the long run.
When your flashing gets damaged, the seams sealing your roof and protruding structure open up and might cause various issues. If you see any damaged flashing, contact professionals to resolve the issue immediately.
3. Pooled Water
Harsh weather conditions or excessive amounts of rain may damage your roof. When there’s a water pool on your roof, it may also cause a list of issues. It can be particularly troublesome for a flat roof.
To avoid issues with mold and rot in the future, be sure to maintain it often to inspect any pooling water. If you see water pooling and aren’t sure about how to fix the problem, never hesitate to call roofers on this matter.
4. Membrane Shrinkage
A roof membrane is often found below your tiles, which serves as a barrier against UV light and extreme temperature while helping to resist any puncture damage. This membrane may shrink when exposed to UV light, resulting in blisters, ridges, and cracks in your roof tiles.
There are countless reasons why your roofing membrane shrinks, but it may depend on what it’s made of, how it’s installed, and how it’s designed. The best way to know is by checking the roof shingles that started to come away from your roof and hiring qualified professionals to inspect your roof.
5. Damaged Roof Vents
Some things may damage your roof vents, like falling tree branches. While checking for several roofing issues, look for any cracked housing on your plastic roof vents. If you’ve installed metal roof vents, check for any broken seams.
Most homeowners use caulk to repair such issues, but that’s not a long-term solution. A long-term fix for damaged roof vents is to have them replaced.
While you’re at it, search for missing or pulled nails at the bottom edge of your vent’s base. If you’ve seen some of these, don’t hesitate to replace them using rubber-washer screws. There are also nails across the vent’s top part, and you may also work on the loose nails without getting rid of the shingles.
6. Overflowing Gutters
Regardless of the type of roofing you have, your gutters are essential to keep the water off of your roof. Most problems that happen, like ice damming, will affect your roof, which can cause overflowing gutters, leading to pooled water on your roofing.
Most people enjoy big shade trees in their yard. However, such shade trees may wreak havoc on their drainage systems and gutters. Falling twigs and leaves can easily clog up downspouts, gutters, and eavestroughs, causing the water to stagnate. For this reason, it’s crucial to ensure that your eavestroughs and downspouts are functioning. It’s also why installing gutter guards is recommended to keep your gutters clear from any debris.
If you notice damage on gutters while cleaning, you can get rid of the debris on your own or hire roofers who offer gutter repair and cleaning services. The best roofers ensure that your gutters are working properly and can install gutter guards to prevent clogging during the winter and summer months.
Conclusion
Those are some of the common roofing problems and solutions you should know to maintain your roof. If you notice any of those issues, make sure to hire a professional and never do it yourself, especially if you don’t know about roofing. Note that roofing isn’t something you should consider as your do-it-yourself (DIY) project, as it requires skills and expertise to fix roofing problems properly.
