When it comes to roofing, little problems often go undetected until they become major issues, costing homeowners time and a lot of money to resolve. An annual roof inspection performed in the spring is the best way to catch these little problems before they cause serious damage. Read on to learn five common roof problems to watch out for.
1. Broken Gutters
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, gutters are very important to your home so it’s essential you maintain them. Failing to repair or replace your broken gutters could cause serious issues, especially after a big rainstorm. When your gutters are not properly attached to your roof, they are not able to do their main job: divert water away from your home. This can lead to property damage and flooding. If you want to avoid dealing with a flooded basement, be sure to have your gutters inspected and repaired by a pro.
2. Defunct Downspout
During the winter, downspouts can become dislodged, causing water to flow directly around the foundation of your home. That water can then saturate your foundation and leak through to your basement, causing significant long-term problems. The risks of ignoring water flow in all the wrong places can lead to foundation cracking, mold growth, and potential destruction of any renovations you have already done. To avoid these unwanted issues, be sure to have a pro check your downspouts to ensure they are all connected properly and positioned correctly.
3. Chimney Deterioration
Chimney deterioration is common in older homes but can happen in a home of any age. The most common issue associated with chimney deterioration is leaking. During the winter, snow and ice will begin to build up on your chimney. The older the chimney is, the more likely it is to have cracks in the crown (top). As the snow melts during the day, the water runs into those cracks. At night, the temperature drops and causes the water to re-freeze. As it expands it pushes the mortar and bricks apart. If this keeps recurring, it can cause your roof to leak and could even cause your chimney to fall off of your house! To avoid a leaky chimney, be sure to have it inspected by a pro.
4. Animal Lodgings
Loose flashings or siding, corroded or rotten fascia boards and dormant chimneys all make great homes for raccoons, squirrels, birds, bats and wasps. If you hear recurring noise on or in your roof or walls, that may be the sound of an unwanted house guest. If you’re concerned you may have pests living in your roof, your best bet is to call in a wildlife removal company so they can check.
A wildlife removal company will be able to get the animals safely out of your home and then safeguard the areas where animals and pests can enter your home. If your wildlife removal company tells you about roof damage as a result, you will need to bring in a roofer to safely repair the damage.
5. Leaking Roof
Issues that develop during the winter likely won’t be visible until spring. During the winter, snow melts and re-freezes causing it to act as a wedge under shingles or behind flashings. Once the weather begins to warm up, these ice wedges melt and can leak through your roof. This is why it is very important to have your roof inspected come spring time. Your roof may look fine as you look up at it from the ground, but only a pro will be able to see up close what the status is.
An inspection should include all roof penetrations, flashings and valleys to ensure they have not been lifted by the ice. Have your pro inspect caulking areas to make sure there is no cracking, and check shingles to ensure there are no cracks or damage to the material.
Inspecting your roof for these common problems is a very important task and can be dangerous. This is why we always recommend hiring a pro to take on this task. Do not risk your safety in an attempt to save some money. Hire a pro to inspect your roof and save yourself the peace of mind that you don’t have any of these common roof problems.
