How To Spot a Failing Roof Before There Is Damage To Your House
How To Spot A Failing Roof Before There Is Damage To Your Corpus Christi, TX, Home
The 9 Most Common Signs Your Roof Needs To Be Fixed Or Replaced By A Professional
The roof on your Corpus Christi, TX, home is the first line of defense against the elements. It is a key component in keeping you, your family, and your possessions safe. If it begins to fail, there can be serious consequences – from minor water damage to major structural issues.
That’s why it’s important to know how to spot a failing roof before there is any damage to your home. Even small cracks and leaks can quickly become major problems if left unchecked.
Luckily, our team of Corpus Christi, TX, roofing experts has put together an essential list of the tell-tale signs of a failing roof. With a little bit of knowledge on your side, you’ll be able to spot trouble before it starts.
Here are the top nine signs that your roof needs to be fixed or replaced by professionals.
1. Visible Damage To Shingles
If you go into your yard and look at your roof, do you see visible damage to the shingles? If so, it could be a huge sign your roof is in trouble.
Shingles are susceptible to damage simply because they are your roof’s first line of defense. Shingles bear the brunt of whatever Mother Nature throws at them – from heavy downpours to hail, wind, and debris.
UV radiation can also damage shingles, which weakens the material over time. So even if you don’t see any visible damage immediately, it could be the first sign that your roof needs a little TLC.
Remember, some shingle damage is hard to see unless you are a trained roof professional. For instance, hail damage can cause leaks in your home, but it’s incredibly difficult to spot with just a visual inspection from your yard.
2. Broken Vent Boots
A vent boot is the PVC pipe seen sticking out of your roof, often located above the footprint of your bathroom. The vent has a boot around the bottom connected to the roof. When this becomes damaged in any way, it can lead to leaks inside your home.
In many cases, when the vent boot is the issue, you will start to see water damage around the fan in your bathroom. Water stains, drips, and even mold can begin to form – so keep an eye out for unexpected moisture in your bathroom.
3. Exposed Nails Seen In Attic Or Crawlspace
Roofing is nailed into the beams of your home. However, if a nail were to be misplaced, this would result in being able to see an exposed nail when shining a light toward your roof while in the crawlspace or attic next to the roof.
Believe it or not, an exposed nail may be the culprit for any leaks you may be experiencing in your home.
4. Clogged Soffits
When you look at your roof, the vent-like objects on the roof are called soffits. Soffits have the responsibility of allowing air into your attic space. When these fail, it can cause humidity to increase and even lead to mold or mildew setting up inside the home. The goal of your roof is to keep moisture out – so if your soffits are compromised, it can lead to serious issues.
Soffits are often damaged by inclement weather and even fail due to age. If you keep smelling mildew or mold-like odors in your home, it could all be due to clogged soffits. Call a professional Corpus Christi, TX, roofing company and have them inspect your roof’s health.
5. Stains On Your Ceiling
If you see new stains on your ceiling, it could signify that a leak from your roof has already made its way to the interior of your home.
Water stains are often darker areas in the ceiling that may have a brown or yellow hue. There could be mold sitting up around the stain or near it, as water has been sitting in the location for quite some time. Mold on the inside of your home is a serious health risk, and a team of experts should take care of it immediately.
6. Mold On The Exterior Of Your Home
If you see mold growing on the exterior of your home near the gutters, along the side of your home, or elsewhere, it could signal that your roof is damaged. The same can be said of finding moss growing near your gutters.
7. Damaged Flashing
Flashing is used on roofs to direct water flow away from weaker points of your roof and to protect the overall structure.
For example, flashing is located around the bottom of most chimneys where it meets the roof. This seam is a vulnerable area that needs an extra layer of protection from rain and moisture.
If you see any signs of cracked or missing flashing, it’s a sign your roof may be failing and could become vulnerable to damage from the elements. It’s best to call an expert for help before it gets worse.
8. Clogged Gutters
Believe it or not, your gutters are a crucial part of your roofing system. When your gutters become clogged, the water that usually channels away from your roof can collect and pool on the surface.
Standing water can slowly seep into the seams between singles and put intense pressure on the structure, causing irreversible damage. Small leaks and total collapse of entire areas are possible if you have large amounts of water on your roof.
9. Roof Appears To Have Sunken Areas
Sunken areas in a roof could be a massive sign that the roof’s structural integrity has become damaged. Often, when recessed areas are seen, it’s an indication that water has been leaking into the area and damaging the wood under the shingles.
When a sunken area is seen, it is best to inspect this professionally as soon as possible. If left alone, this could result in the roof collapsing in the recessed area.
Get Your Free Roof Inspection For Your Corpus Christi, TX, Home
If you see signs of roof damage on your Corpus Christi, TX, home, it is time to get the situation under control before it causes severe damage. We offer free roof inspections that will look at every part of your roof to determine the present issues.
Contact us or call us today at 361-470-3456 to schedule your free inspection. Don’t let roof damage affect you more than it already has!