Maintenance is a normal part of house ownership. As long as you own a house, you must invest in its upkeep. During the life span of your property, you’ll need to repair and replace things that have worn out or have become ineffective. The longer your house stands, the more likely that some of the items will break due to wear and tear.
Your house roof is one part of your house that needs maintenance. Even if they were installed properly during construction, in time, some parts of the roof may give in to wear and tear. So, you need to know which signs to look out for to know whether they need repair or replacement. If you’re not sure about it, you call an expert to help and assist you.
That said, here are some of the signs to look out for to see if your roof needs urgent repair:
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Higher Electricity Bills
There’s a direct correlation between higher bills and a failing roof because it affects insulation. For example, if there’s an opening in the roof such as a crack, it means that your air conditioning system needs to work much harder to keep the airflow going. The harder it works, the more energy it consumes. So, if you notice that your electricity bill is unusually high, check whether your roof leaks.
Remember that keeping your roof intact will save you lots of money on energy bills.
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Missing, Loose, Broken ,or Buckling Shingles
Shingles are structurally significant because they hold the roof in place. If you observe that there are missing or broken shingles on your roof, it means that the roof doesn’t have the maximum support it needs to stay in place. Therefore, if you notice something is missing or broken you can arrange for roof repairs.
In addition, if you notice shingle granules in the gutter, it’s also a sign that your roof needs repair and might even need a complete replacement, especially if it has metal roof sheeting.
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Ceiling Damage or Stains
If you see stains or dark rings on the ceiling, it’s a sign that your roof is leaking. However, it may be difficult to identify the exact area on the roof where the leak is occurring. Water doesn’t always fall vertically. It can also travel along with panels in the roof and form dark rings elsewhere, which makes it difficult to pinpoint the leak area.
Also, maybe your geyser is the one leaking and not the roof. So, you need to do a proper inspection to find out the source of the leak. But if it’s the case, your roof needs to be repaired. Ignoring it may cause mold to develop in the ceiling which will spoil the aesthetics of the entire room. In which case you’ll have to remove it.
Moreover, if the leak is unattended for long enough, the ceiling may eventually collapse, which will cost you a lot because you’ll have to pay for a replacement ceiling. Therefore, it’s best to regularly check for leaks, and don’t ignore the signs that there might be a leak.
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Roof Discoloration
If you see that there’s discoloration on your roof, you need to inspect it immediately. It could be a sign that the shingles are wearing out. Also, if you observe some dark spots on the roof, it could be that mold is growing on the shingles. You certainly don’t want to ignore this because the condition of the shingles will worsen as time passes. The sooner you establish what’s causing the discoloration, the better.
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Old Roof
This is one of the most obvious signs that you need to repair or replace your roof. It doesn’t matter whether your roof has held up well over the years. It’s better to be proactive by repairing the parts of the roof that have weakened or that have corroded before they manifest into colossal problems.
Roofs age differently. But, all of them suffer the same fate. At some point, it’ll wear out. Therefore, when your house reaches, let’s say 20 years of age, it’s a telltale sign that your roof needs urgent inspection and repair. You don’t have to wait for the problem to occur for you to act.
Conclusion
The roof of your house plays a huge role in terms of aesthetics and functionality. But the latter is more important because it ensures that the internal environment of the house is separate from the external. When storms come, that roof over your head ensures that no water enters your house through the ceiling. That’s why it’s structurally significant. It’s also why you need to maintain it diligently.
