The best way to prevent excessive repair costs is to be proactive. Many Salt Lake City residents only call their preferred roofing contractors when it’s already too late. Unknown to many, ignoring roofing problems can cause your repair expenses to skyrocket.
Instead of waiting for things to get worse, here are the ten signs you need to watch out for:
1. Shingle damages
If your shingles display signs of damage, such as cracking, curling, or falling off, they may be at the end of their lifespan. If some of your roof’s shingles are in this state, it may be time to get your roof replaced with new shingles.
2. Ceiling stains
Ceiling states usually indicate a leaky roof, and a leaky roof means there’s damage somewhere. It’s best to take care of the problem immediately before the mold starts growing and causing the framework of the house to rot.
3. Shingle granules
Bits and pieces of the shingles may fall off when they near the end of their service life. If you start noticing coarse, black granules in your gutters, consider having your shingles replaced immediately before they fall apart.
4. Leaks
Is your ceiling leaking after a rainstorm? It may be a sign of your roof failing. Before the problem leads to worse conditions, have a contractor look into it. You may need minor repairs (if the problem is in a small area only) or a whole roof replacement.
5. Energy spikes
If you notice that your electric bill is higher than usual and you don’t see any reason why it should be as such, your indoor air may be leaking through the roof. Your air conditioning or heating system may be working overtime to keep the house cold or warm.
6. Mold
Mold between the roof and exterior wall may indicate water running off in the gaps if kick-out flashing isn’t done. If it goes untreated, mold can destroy your sheathing and framing. Similarly, mold on exterior walls may mean there is a leak in the roof.
7. Light streaming through
If you notice sunlight streaming through a place where it’s not supposed to be, it’s a telltale sign that your roof has holes in it. Get it fixed immediately unless you want the water to stream down next.
8. Chimney flashing
Replace chimney flashing that has roof cement or tar with a water-tight metal flashing system. Otherwise, you may experience leaks in your home.
9. Sagging roof
Sagging decking or rafters indicate moisture in the structure. Determine if the problem is localized. If it is, you can fix the problem without replacing the whole roof. Otherwise, you’re in for a big repair expense. So, make sure you inspect your rafters once in a while.
10. Peeling paint
Peeling or blistering paint is an indication of moisture in the roof, which usually means you need to repair your roof and/or gutter system.
Avoid expensive repair costs by tackling roofing problems as soon as they arise. If you see one or two of these 10 signs on your roof, have a professional inspect it right away.
