A house without a roof is only half a house – true, but a house with a problematic roof is one that is “crying out for help.”

Roofing worries and woes are not at all uncommon for Florida homeowners, but when they happen to you and your home you want to eliminate them as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.

Here are seven of the most likely roofing problems that you are going to face as a homeowner, along with tips and strategies for solving the problem without delay.

1. Roof Leaks

A leaky roof is the single most common roofing problem that Florida homeowners contact a roofing contractor to fix. You may discover a roof leak because of discolored ceiling tiles or wall drywall, damp attic insulation, or watermarks around windows and doors. The most obvious kind of leak, of course, is discovered when you see water dripping into your living spaces!

Many things can cause a roof leak, including damaged or out-of-place roof flashing, cracked roofing caulk, unsealed gaps around roof vents or chimney tops, and damaged or uplifted shingles.

Given that a single roof leak in just the wrong place can cause hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damage to your home’s interior – roof leaks are clearly not something to ignore. It can be challenging to locate some roof leakage points, and if you attempt a DIY repair and don’t stop the leak, you risk doing further damage. Plus, it can be dangerous to walk and work on a rooftop unless you are trained to do so. 

Overall, it’s usually best to search for a good roofing contractor either online, in a local phone book, or just by asking for a recommendation from those who have used a good local roofer in the past.

2. Roof “Puddles”

Some roofs, particularly flat or low-incline style roofs, may tend to allow water to pool. You may notice roof puddles on your rooftop after every rain. And the puddles can get stagnant and may pose a risk of an eventual leak if not addressed. Water pooling on your roof may also cause mold, mildew, fungus, or algae to grow – and it could cause wood rafter to rot if the water seeps through.

Oftentimes, a portion of a roof sags, and this creates the conditions where a puddle can form even on a non-flat roof. Or, puddling and standing water could partly be caused by water accumulation around roof debris.

Whatever the cause, it’s unhealthy for a roof to constantly have puddles after every rain. A local roofing contractor will be able to detect the problem and fix it, even if that means restructuring certain problematic portions of your roof.

3. Storm Damage

Florida is clearly a stormy state, and storm damage is a common cause of roof damage for Floridians. Storm damage to roofing is a big topic, but here are some of the most common ways in which stormy weather can impact your roof:

• High winds – these may bend shingles over backward, crack them off, tear them off completely, or leave them hanging loosely. You may see exposed areas of your roof following a major storm or notice roofing shingles scattered in your lawn.
• Roof flashing – these occur on the eaves, valleys, or around chimneys, and vents may be torn off or shifted out of place. It may need to be repositioned, resealed, or replaced entirely to function as a good water barrier again.
• Water leak – water may break through the shingles and get inside your home, damaging the building and your personal property.
• Hail impacts – if hail falls during the storm, the impacts can destroy the integrity of roofing shingles. They may lose much of their life span and a lot of their strength. A professional roofer can identify which shingles may need to be replaced, if any, following a hailstorm.
• Ridge cap damage – at the peak of the roof is where your ridge caps are located, and they are often ripped off or damaged during a storm. This is unsurprising as they are higher up in the wind than any other part of the building.
• Trees or tree branch damage – during a storm, trees and their branches can cause major structural damage to your roof. High winds can even cause overhanging limbs to badly scratch the roof surface. You may want to not only repair the damage but remove the risk by removing deadwood trees and cutting back branches that are too close to your roof.
• Wind-borne projectiles – these are called “missiles,” and they may impact your roofing and other parts of your home, causing significant damage.
  
  

Be it caused by a hurricane, tropical storm, tornado, or severe thunderstorm, storm damage to your roof should be taken seriously. You will want to have your roof inspected after major storm damage, talk to your homeowner’s insurer, and schedule repair work as soon as possible.

4. Backed-up Gutters

One major source of roofing problems is simple but too often overlooked – backed-up gutters. Your gutter system has to be viewed as a part of your overall roofing system, and when it’s not functioning properly, it affects your roof.

A backed-up gutter or downspout can cause the gutter to fill up with water and overflow. That makes the gutter sag, damaging it. It lets water potentially erode at your home’s foundation. And it allows water to back up under the shingles on the roof’s eave, damaging the roof deck’s edge and possibly causing mold growth and a leak.

Many times, contractors who handle all things roofing also can repair or replace non-functional gutters and downspouts for you.

5. Heat & UV Light Damage

Florida’s sun and heat can take their toll on your home’s roofing. High heat can have several negative impacts on roofing shingles:

• Shingles may buckle, blister, or otherwise refuse to lay flat to the roof.
• Asphalt shingles may crack.
• The asphalt may stick to the roof deck, especially if you don’t have good (or any) underlayment below it as a secondary water barrier.
• High heat over a long period of time can actually shorten the life expectancy of asphalt shingles.
• UV light may weaken shingles over time or at least cause them to fade. UV-resistant shingles will stand up better to UV rays and retain full coloration longer.
  
  

Many people don’t realize that extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, can have a negative impact on roofing over the years. If the sun and warm Florida climate have damaged your roof, you may need to have a roofing contractor inspect your roof and make a few needed repairs.

6. Poor Home Ventilation

One aspect of maintaining strong roofing that gets overlooked is the importance of having a proper home ventilation system in place.

First of all, lack of ventilation allows high heat to have its full impact on your shingles, whereas keeping things cooler via ventilation mitigates the effect. Installing attic fans and roofing vents will do much to improve home ventilation, which will lower the temperature of your roofing, keep your attic a bit cooler, and save you money on your monthly energy bill.

Again, search for a roofing contractor near me online and you will find that many of them also install vents and fans and know how to improve your home’s ventilation system.

7. Pest Problems

Another common roofing problem to watch out for is that caused by wildlife and insects. Mice, rats, possums, squirrels, birds (think woodpeckers!), and other critters may get on your rooftop and cause damage. Worse yet, they may break into your attic, causing an infestation and a roof leak simultaneously.

In that case, you would need a roofer and a pest control expert to solve the problem and prevent it from happening again.

Other Reasons To Search For A Roofing Contractor Near You

There are other roofing problems too that we can mention aside from the seven listed above. For example, roofing materials often suffer from “shrinkage.” They may shrink and pull apart at the edges, which could open up leakage points or disturb flashing.

Lack of proper installation of roofing material, to begin with, can lead to problems down the road, as can improperly done roof repair work. If someone doesn’t know how to find and fix a roof leak or other roofing problem the right way, then it’s best if they let the pros handle it. Otherwise, you could cause additional damage or install roofing materials in a way that might lead to future issues.

Lack of ordinary, proper roof maintenance is another source of roofing problems. Getting an annual roof inspection done by a professional contractor can save you a lot of headaches over the life of your roof by alerting you to developing issues early. And just cleaning your gutters twice a year and sweeping debris off the roof once a year will have a significant positive impact.

Finally, you may look for a roofing contractor near me because you are in the midst of a major home renovation project and want a new roof to match the new aesthetic of your home’s exterior.

How To Select The Best Local Roofer

Once you have a roof repair need or need a roof inspection, you’re going to go to the computer and type in something like best local roofing contractor near me. Numerous candidates are likely to pop up and populate the page. But which one is the right roofer for you?

Here are some of the questions to ask yourself as you compare the various options:

• Is this roofer local enough? Is it convenient for me to go to their office if necessary?
• Does the roofing contractor offer affordable, competitive, and reasonable rates? Are all rates and policies clear without any hidden “surprise” fees?
• What kind of credentials do you see? Is the contractor in question fully trained, licensed, and insured? Are there any high marks from, say, the Better Business Bureau or a similar business-rating organization?
• How long has this company been in the roofing business in your area? Longer experience for the company and its workers is invaluable.
• Does the roofing contractor allow emergency roof repair calls?
• What kind of local reputation does the roofer seem to have? Are online customer reviews overwhelmingly positive?
• What about customer service? Are you satisfied you are being treated right in a professional manner? Is communication good between customer and roofer?
  
  

Finding the right local roofing contractor is an important decision that every homeowner eventually has to make. In Central Florida, one name that has consistently stood out above the rest is Sheegog Contracting. Sheegog offers high-quality roofing, restoration, and construction work at competitive rates. 

To learn more, contact Sheegog Contracting today for a free roofing consultation and no-obligation quote!