Unlike other sections of our house, we don’t get to see the state of our roofs at any time. Because of this, it is usually hard to detect problems until it’s too late to do something about it. By then, the damage has escalated, and most often than not, the other parts of the house have already been affected.
This is why it is important to have a regular inspection and maintenance for your house. While it is difficult to physically go up to your roof and check its condition, there are early signs that you can watch out for in order to check whether it is due for repair or maintenance.
How To Detect Wear And Tear On Your Roof
The age of your roof is your first clue to its condition. Due to its direct exposure to the different elements of nature, it is bound to deteriorate over time. This is normal, but the life span of your roof also depends on the kind of material that was used for it.
Typically, roofs that were built with modern materials would last for about twenty years, while more traditional materials like clay, copper, slate, or tiles are expected to last a bit longer. If your roof is nearing the end of its expected lifespan, better have it checked right away.
The appearance of moss or algae in any part of your roof is also a sign of deterioration. These would only appear on the decaying areas and thus, would require immediate attention. If you notice that you are getting charged more for electric consumption, this could also indicate a roofing problem. Your roof helps with the house insulation, so if the roof is damaged, temperature inside would be implicated as well.
Watch out for visible hints of damage such as leaks as well as water stains on the walls and ceilings. Check if there are tree branches that are reaching out close to your house, because this could mean that small animals like raccoons are getting easy access and could be causing damage to your roof.
Aside from these, you can also pay attention to other hints of wear and tear such as cracked tiles, missing shingles, broken edges, discoloration on the plasterboard, peeling or faded paint, loose seams, or considerable volume of shingle granules getting stuck in the rain gutters. Contact a Roofing Repair Contractor immediately if you observe any of these signs, so they can fix your roofing problems before they blow up.
Importance Of Roof Maintenance And Early Repairs
If you have not set aside a portion of your household budget for roof maintenance, then it’s time to start this practice. Paying for repairs that you think unnecessary may be painful, but think of it as a small expense that could save you a lot of trouble in the long term.
In fact, you can get many benefits from always keeping your roof in good condition. For one, you will actually get monetary savings because these small maintenance repairs can prevent premature replacement for your roof and may even extend its lifespan. That means it will take longer before your roof would need replacement, which is a much bigger expense overall.
Water leaks from a damaged roof can cause a bigger nuisance than you would expect. It can create ugly watermarks on your walls and ceiling which would need to be treated and repainted. It can also lead to unfortunate accidents such as water dripping on your furniture and appliances, which would force you to have a more costly renovation.
Aside from this, you may even need to move out of the house for the duration of the renovation, which adds to the inconvenience and stress of the situation. Keeping your roof well-maintained can prevent these unfavorable circumstances from happening.
Minor roof repairs and regular maintenance can also save you from the much bigger cost of emergency repairs.
Once a portion of your roof gets damaged, it can easily spread out and will get bigger over time. This will cost you more compared to having them fixed at the onset, which is why detecting them early and fixing them right away is the best way to go.
Lastly, if you decide to sell your property in the future, having the roof in good condition would help increase its re-sell value. Potential buyers pay attention to these aspects of the house, and having a damaged roof would give them a reason to haggle and bring the price down.
