The Dangers Of Hidden Roof Damage
When you are fully aware of a roof repair need, that greatly simplifies matters – you just need to put your roof repair response plan into action. But when roof damage is hidden out of sight, it takes a little more to detect it so you can then correct it.
A lot of damage can be done to your roof and to your home’s interior by failing to find pressing roof repair needs and take care of them in a timely manner. To avoid this, there are certain steps to be taken and practices to be adhered to.
Here are some indications your home may have hidden roof damage that could cause additional issues if allowed to go too long without a roof repair.
1. Signs of Water Damage
Sometimes, water damage in your home may be more subtle and tend to get overlooked. But it can be an indication of an intermittent or slow leak somewhere above.
Things to look for include discolored or soft drywall ceilings or walls, water stains on attic beams or ceilings, damp attic floor insulation, watermarks around windows or doors, and stains on carpets or on furniture.
The longer you wait to address these kinds of issues and track down that hidden leak, the worse things are going to get. More damage is being done, silently out of view, every time it rains.
2. Visible But Small Leaks
Much of what was said under #1 can be said here too, but the difference is that you may have noticed an occasional drip, drip, drop here and there. Or, if you were to look in your attic ceiling with a flashlight while it is raining, you might spot a small, slow leak.
All too often, people decide to just let these little leaks go. But remember that they can do a substantial amount of damage over a long period of time – and if there are multiple such leakage points, then that multiplies the impacts greatly.
3. Mold, Mildew, & Fungal Growth
Even if you’ve seen zero leaks of any size and no water damage at all, you could still have a problem. It might be a leak, or it might be condensation or moisture buildup that is related to a roof problem.
Mold, mildew, and mushrooms should not be growing inside of your home! Aside from it being gross and looking bad, it can damage your property and pose a serious health risk to family members (especially if it is “black mold“).
4. Clogged Up Gutters
Clogged gutters can cause damage to your roofing, so if your gutters and downspouts are filled to the brim with debris and can’t shed water properly, you can bet there may be roof damage. Looking at the roof’s eaves and along the fascia board may reveal wood rot and a leak entrance point.
Additionally, if you see a lot of roof shingle granules in your gutters, that indicates excessive granule loss. That is also a form of roof damage that often goes unnoticed just looking at the roof from the ground. And without enough granules, shingles deteriorate faster under UV light exposure.
5. Shingle Problems Out of View
You would have to get up on your rooftop many times to see it, but there may be damaged shingles on your roof even though you don’t know it.
Over time, wind, rain, hail, high heat, and other stresses take their toll on a shingle. Asphalt shingles may buckle, bend, break, have their nails pop up, fray, curl, or slip loose. You could even have a missing shingle and not know it if it came off from a hard-to-see part of the roof and didn’t fall all the way to the ground.
6. Unsealed Shingles
Another problem that happens is that high winds during a storm lift up shingles, thus breaking their seal. They are no longer stuck down tight to the shingle they overlap just beneath them.
It is not a given that shingles will reseal themselves over time. This often fails to occur, and once a shingle has been uplifted, it can more easily be lifted up again when the next storm comes.
Thus, it’s a good idea to have a roof repair pro find and reseal any shingles that need it. Or, if you are capable, you might try to reseal them yourself with some high-quality roofing tar or caulk.
7. You Just Got Hit By a Storm
Even without any other specific signs of possible roof damage, you may well want to check it out and be alert immediately after a major storm.
There are at least 7 types of storm damage common to Florida roofs and homes, and you are better off being cautious than assuming your building escaped them all.
And if other forms of severe weather occur in your area, that too could merit having a professional roof inspection done to find any potential roof repair needs.
8. Long Neglect Without A Roof Inspection
If you have gone years and years without ordering a roof inspection done on your home’s roofing, then that in itself is cause for concern.
If you don’t monitor your roof over the years and keep tabs on its true condition, you won’t be aware of many roof repair problems it may be hiding from you.
Far better to spend a small amount on an annual or biannual roof inspection than to be surprised later on with major roof repair expenses that could have been prevented!
9. Your Roofing Is Overheating
Another thing that can go unnoticed is when roofing overheats. If you don’t have good attic ventilation or insulation, then Florida’s hot, hot summers can take a toll on the lifespan of your roofing shingles.
You may also consider adding attic fans and/or a radiant barrier. Radiant barriers reflect heat back out from your attic and are attached to the attic ceiling.
10. Roof Flashing Is Failing
Finally, it may not always be obvious when roof flashing is no longer functioning properly. But it can still cause leaks and damage to your roof deck if you don’t get a roof repair to correct the problem.
For example, water may have badly eroded the roof valleys and gotten under roof-valley flashing. Or, flashing along a chimney may have pulled away from the brick or stone but not come loose enough to see it from the ground. Or, drip edge flashing on the eaves may be out of place but hidden by the gutter.
Of course, there are other less than obvious roof repair needs that could occur too, such as damaged ridge caps on the roof’s peak or rotted roof decking, but the point is clear. It pays to pay attention to your roof so you can locate roof damage quickly and get the necessary roof repair done before the problem gets worse.
To learn more about protecting your roofing or to get a free quote on a roof repair, contact Sheegog Contracting today!
