Often overlooked, your roof is one of the most integral components to your home, and without it, you are in store for monumental complications to your house. To ensure that no damages befall your home and family, it is vital to ensure that your roof is in pristine condition. A lack of roof maintenance is one of the biggest causes of roofing damage. Roof Top Services of Central Florida, Inc. is one of the best Orlando roofers, who have won multiple awards for their customer service and product knowledge.
If you are looking to make sure that your roof is healthy, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the two contributors to roof damage are weather and time. If severe weather conditions don’t cause harm to your roof, then time will, which is why homeowners need to be vigilant and knowledgeable of the vulnerable portions of the roof, as well as, being able to identify damage.
The Necessity of a Healthy Roof
If you let your roof succumb to the elements, it will continue to degrade over time as the damage becomes irreparable. Leaks can result in further erosion of your home’s structure as it can harm drywall and create electrical risks if water makes its way to your wiring. As your roof’s integrity becomes compromised, it also hurts the insulation of your home which can increase your heating and cooling costs. It is easy to fail to see the importance of your roof, but when you look at how it affects your house overall, the necessity of a good roof becomes clear.
Know the Structures
Before you can even identify problems with your roof, you need to know what it is supposed to look like when it is healthy. Familiarizing yourself with your roof and its components are crucial to keeping your roof in perfect health.
- Drip Edges – Often made of aluminum or sometimes plastic, drip edges along the edge of the roof to reduce runoff.
- Valleys – Channels formed when slopes in a roof meet forming a V shape which is susceptible to leaks.
- Flashing – When your roof has angles and joints that meet in valleys, protective pieces of metal known as flashing are often placed to reinforce the creases.
- Felt Underlayment – Beneath the layer of shingles, felt underlayment forms a protective barrier from leakage making its way through the tiles.
Types of Damage
Now that you are familiar with how the elements of your roof are supposed to function, you can adequately recognize symptoms of an unhealthy roof. If you notice any of the following telltale signs of damage on your roof, contact a professional immediately to prevent further problems.
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- Loss of Granules – Your shingles have granules on them which protect them from harsh weather. Over time you will notice the granules begin to loosen and fall off of the tiles. They often wind up in the gutters which can cause water to build up which eventually seeps into the roof.
- Missing Flashing – After you have familiarized yourself with where your flashing is, if you see flashing missing from your roof, you are now at risk for leaks through the creases in your valleys and joints.
- Missing Shingles – Easily identifiable, when you spot shingles missing from your roof, the felt underlayment is exposed, which makes it easier for water to make its way in.
- Exposed Nails – As your shingles go missing, the nails beneath them can become loose and exposed. This creates an opening for water to come in through the holes that the nails were originally in.
- Water Damage Inside – If you start to find spots of water damage in your drywall or ceiling, it is highly indicative of roof damage.
- Drastic Change in Heating/Cooling Costs – As damage to your roof gets worse, its ability to properly insulate your home decreases. You will notice your heating and cooling costs rise substantially as your air conditioning system has to work harder to compensate.
Take no Risks
Your roof is one of the most crucial structures in your home, and you should never take it for granted. If you encounter any of these revealing signs of roof damage, act immediately and have a professional provide you with assistance.