10 of the Most Common Problems You May Encounter with Your Roof
It isn’t at all uncommon for your roof to experience damage, but urn into a huge problem if it is left untreated. It can be just a minor leak, and it can create a lot of damage, especially to the interior of your home, such as ruined ceilings, wallboard and insulation. Therefore, it is very important that you take the time out of your day to regularly inspect your roof. This helps to detect minor issues long before they develop into major problems that require costly repairs. Here are 10 of the most frequent issues that you may come across with your roof:
Problem #1: The Sun.
Over time, the UV rays from the sun can result in the deterioration of your roof. This is particularly true if you have an asphalt singled roof. The asphalt shingles can dry, blister and crack, eventually coming loose and possibly falling off. If this happens, the sheathing underneath will be exposed – as will the roof – to the various weather elements.
Problem #2: Snow and Ice.
Your roof can really take a beating from snow and ice. As the build-up of snow and ice melt, the water will make its way beneath the flashing and shingles where it will eventually refreeze. When it refreezes, it will lift the flashing and shingles, allowing for more water to seep through. The cycle can then start all over again. Eventually, the flashing and shingles can come loose or you can just have bad leaks on your hands. In either case, it is important to check your roof each spring if you live in an area where snow, ice and freezing are conditions you deal with regularly.
Problem #3: Strong Gusts of Wind.
Another issue that you have is the wind, and it doesn’t mean that there has to be a strong storm coming through the area for you to deal with strong winds. You can have strong gusts of wind on a perfectly clear, sunny day, and these gusts of wind can be strong enough to either lift or tear your shingles off of your roof. So, keep an eye out on the ground for pieces or entire shingles.
Problem #4: Overhanging Tree Limbs.
Tree limbs that hang over your roof can rub against the surface of your roof causing the protective top layer of your shingles to be rubbed away. If branches were to fall onto your roof from a nearby tree, this can cause even more damage, such as puncturing a hole in your roof. So, on a regular basis, it is important to take the time to trim back tree limbs as much as possible away from your roof. If there is a roof that appears to pose a threat to the roof and your home as a whole, it is a good idea to have the entire thing removed as soon as possible.
Problem #5: Birds/Small Wildlife.
Birds and other small wildlife can do more damage to your roof than you could ever imagine. For instance, woodpeckers would make look for insects along the eaves by making holes. These holes, believe it or not, can get pretty large and the wood would be left exposed to moisture, which means that it could eventually rot. Another example would be racoons. These animals would want to try to get into attic and may try to pull up your flashing and shingles trying to get inside. Any damage that you notice from wildlife needs to be repaired immediately and you should try to figure out ways that would discourage the animals from messing with your roof.
Problem #6: Insects.
As a general rule, insects mess with the foundation of a home. However, they can do damage to your roof as well. For example, carpenter ants, termites and similar insects will chew at fascia boards and the eaves of your roof. Insects tend to be what attracts other wildlife to your roof as well. Try to eliminate the insects and you may just eliminate the wildlife problem at the same time.
Problem #7: The Flashing.
Flashing is located around vents, chimney and the edge of your roof – all of these areas can allow water to seep in for damage to develop. Around vent flashing, there is caulking, but it often dries out and shrinks. As for the edge flashing, it can become damaged when you deal with snow buildup and ice dams during the winter. Therefore, it is a good idea to try to avoid using sharp tools and avoid hammering on the flashing and to check the caulking on a regular basis so that it can be replaced before it deteriorates too bad.
Problem #8: Clogged Gutters.
If you’re going to have a gutter system on your home, you need to make sure that it works. If your gutters are broken or clogged, they can’t do their job. Water will back up and eventually seep into the roof eaves. When this happens, the wood will rot over time. Therefore, debris needs to be cleaned out on a regular basis and the gutters need to be inspected routinely for broken seams and brackets. It is recommended to consider adding a gutter guard system to keep debris out, which makes your job easier.
Problem #9: Poorly Ventilated Attic.
Your roof’s lifespan can quickly be shortened if your attic is not insulated properly. When your attic gets too hot over the summer months, the roof’s shingles “bake” from underneath. This causes them to dry out and become brittle. If the attic is too hot during the winter months, then the snow will melt at a fast pace and the water will refreeze. This continues repeatedly and causes the shingles and flashing to lift continuously.
Problem #10: Lack of Roof Maintenance.
If you fail to keep up with your roof maintenance, then you are going to have a host of problems. Most problems will start off small, such as the need to clean your clogged gutters or remove tree limbs that are hanging over your roof. However, when these issues are not corrected over a reasonable amount of time, they can result in significant roof damage. Therefore, regular inspections and routine maintenance can easily extend the lifespan of your home’s roof and also save you a considerable amount of money in the long run.
If you would like to schedule an inspection of your roof by a team of roofing professionals or need us to look at a problem that you found during your own inspection, give us a call at C and K Roofing.