When first moving into your home, what did you know about the roofing? If you’re like most homeowners, the answer is not that much. It probably was inspected but the extent of that might leave something to be desired.
There are certainly a few things to look out for. In this article, we cover some of those to steer your right on how best to proceed.
Decking or Sheathing is Decaying Badly
When there’s an issue with moisture build-up, the roof decking could have become suspect. At this point, it may be evident by a ceiling that’s sagging down, unexpected leaks in various seemingly random spots, or the sheathing are damaged.
If it’sthe decking that’s decaying, this is a serious matter. It’s important to get a reliable roofing company to perform a proper inspection of the present condition of the roof. They can provide the right advice for the circumstances once they’re hands-on with the problem.
Shingle Streaking
It’s easy to overlook this one. The roof shingles that form the upper outer layer on the roof can become discolored in places. This is visibly evident as streaking along the shingle itself in various spots.
While it might be observed and discounted as merely accumulated dirt, it’s more likely to be the result of a lichen, algae or moss build up. A stain guard protection is useful for new shingles and these probably should be cleaned up to prevent further growth.
Water Leaks
Wet spots developing from the roof down to the level below are a clear sign of roofing problems. This can create spots in the attic, which in turn leads to bacteria development if not handled properly. Ceiling strains from water causing the discoloration is another sign, even if the water hasn’t entered any living quarters yet.
The underlayment which sits below the shingles may have become damp due to rain getting beneath the shingles and decking. This is indicative of a serious problem that needs an inspection to determine how bad it is.
Broken Shingles
Shingles can become broken over time. This is often caused by high winds tearing a shingle partly or fully off a rooftop. Also, hanging or fallen branches from nearby trees can break shingles too. If you live in an area that gets plenty of strong gusts of wind, then don’t be surprised to need to get some missing or broken shingles replaced.
Doing so annually prevents rain and moisture from entering the roof structure and relying on protective membranes to stop it leaking through to the structure below.
Discolored Walls
This one might surprise you. Discolored walls are an indicator that moisture is coming into the home (possibly through the roof) and is not being ventilated. This creates a buildup that needs to go somewhere. As a result, it finds its way to the internal structure of the supporting walls.
While this isn’t usually indicative of a problem with the walls per se, it does suggest a moisture containment problem. The roof is the likely suspect, but it could be caused by other factors. So, it’s important to give the roof the once over to rule it out.
Not all roofing issues are obvious to the naked eye. Sometimes, like with wall paint discoloration, other seemingly unconnectedissues can be traced back to a roofing problem. Therefore, homeowners would do well to get the roof checked annually or bi-annually to be sure.
COMMENTS