Maintaining your roof is important, but many people overlook the obvious signs of damage until they’re already in desperate need of repairs. Dealing with roof damage (or even general wear and tear) as early as possible can be vital for saving money and preventing further problems.
But how do you identify issues with your roof that need fixing, especially if you’ve never done roof repairs or inspections yourself? Sometimes, spotting even a vague sign of potential future damage can be all you need to resolve the problem early.
Look for obvious damage
Sometimes, your roof will simply have blatantly obvious problems. This could be missing tiles or shingles, cracks in the roof surface or a sagging or an otherwise abnormal shape. In these cases, you will usually be able to spot the problem with only a brief inspection, even without much personal experience from which to draw.
Other times, it may not be so obvious. Early signs of damage can be more subtle, and some roofing materials may be more prone to cosmetic damage without suffering actual structural damage.
Leaking is another major example of something you can notice quite easily. If water leaks from the roof, it means there’s a crack or gap allowing rainwater to enter. This can be a sign of more extensive damage, and you’ll likely need professional roofing contractors to repair the issue.
Look for dark spots and stains on the walls
Your walls sometimes indicate roof damage, even if the roof itself doesn’t. If water is leaking inside and running down your interior walls, then you almost certainly need to get at least minor repairs done to the surface of your roof.
The more extreme this is, the worse the damage has become. Over time, these wet spots and stains can also become a hazard in their own right, contributing to mould growth or potentially weakening other materials (like wooden supports) within the walls.
Catching these signs early can make a big difference since it is much cheaper and easier to deal with a minor piece of roof damage compared to a large crack that allows a huge amount of water to leak in. Depending on the location of the leaks, leaving things too long without repairs may even put other items, such as electrics, at risk.
Check your thermal efficiency
The roof is one of the biggest contributors to your home’s thermal efficiency – that is, how well it can retain and manage heat. If your roof is damaged, it may be leaking heat, which means worse heating performance and often higher heating bills overall.
While this can be due to a number of factors, roof damage can be a big contributor. It’s worth keeping track of your home’s thermal performance over time anyway, so make sure to check the condition of your roof if you notice energy bills suddenly increasing.
There are plenty of contractors out there to choose from, including dozens of local options such as Gusroofing for those living in Greely, CO. Also, you can contact NWIR that have best roofing contractors for best results. Make sure to spend some time exploring your contractor options – that way, you can be prepared to call the best when you need them most.