Your roof is an integral part of your life. It protects you from the elements, keeps you comfortable, and helps you save money by increasing the energy efficiency of your home. Unfortunately, sometimes things can go wrong and you’ll experience roofing issues. If you notice any problems, it’s always best to get a professional inspection before trying to fix things. In this article, we’ll discuss 8 roofing issues that require a qualified contractor.
If you notice any signs that your roof isn’t ventilated properly, you’ll need to hire a qualified contractor. Poor ventilation can make your house feel either extremely hot or extremely cold depending on the season. If your roof and attic aren’t ventilated properly, temperatures can soar up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit and beyond. With no way for the hot air to escape, it warms your home and causes your air conditioner to work in over time. This subsequently leads to extremely high energy costs.
Poor ventilation can also cause structural damage to your roof, increase mold and algae growth, and lead to rust buildup. Overtime, all of these problems will lead to even more damage-control. However, one of the most dangerous side effects of poor ventilation is the buildup of ice dams. Ice dams occur when trapped air creates packets of condensation that slowly start to freeze on top of each other. Not only can ice dams seriously damage your walls, roof, ceiling, and home in general, they pose a huge safety risk to anyone walking nearby. Hiring a qualified contractor will help you repair the issue of poor ventilation properly, so you minimize problems and help keep your home safe.
One of the most common types of roofing issues that homeowners notice is shingle damage. Shingles are your roof’s first line of defense, so they absorb most of the pressure from the outside forces. While a lot of people think that they can easily replace shingles themselves, shingle damage could indicate that something else is going on. For example, you could be losing shingles due to poor ventilation and if you simply replace them yourself, you’re going to waste a lot of time, energy, and money. Instead, if you notice any signs of shingle damage, call a professional shingle roofing contractor.
Leaks are signs that you have something wrong. If they’re not addressed quickly, they will result in water damage that can end up costing thousands of dollars. If you pay attention to the early warning signs of water damage, you can have a professional contractor fix the problem before it’s too late. If you notice any water spots on the ceiling or on the walls near the ceiling, it’s usually an indication of a slow leak. You’ll need to get a thorough roofing inspection to pinpoint the source of the leak. Other signs of leaks or water damage includes granule filled gutters, cracked and blistering shingles, missing shingles, soft wood decking, and water spots on exterior walls. If you notice one or more of these signs, you need to get your leak fixed. If left untreated, you could face serious structural damage or dangerous living conditions. It’s simply not worth the risk.
Contrary to what you might think, downspout or gutter problems should be handled by a qualified contractor. If they’re replaced poorly, you could end up causing more harm than good. If you don’t have a properly working downspout, you’ll increase the soil moisture levels around your home, which could end up damaging the foundation. Eventually, your house could come to settle on a slant, which would then lead to it slowly starting to split. This sounds like something out of a movie, but it happens. If your house starts to split, you’ll have large cracks, uneven floors, and doors or windows that take a lot of effort to open and close. If damage gets this far, it will cost a lot of money to fix the foundation so that your home is safe to live in.
Gutter and downspout problems also frequently lead to flooded basements and thousands of dollars in damage. While sometimes the problem is a simple obstruction, other times you might be experiencing leaking seams or weak runoff systems. These are problems that need to be addressed by a professional to ensure the proper solution. If you notice overflowing gutters, sagging gutters, gutter detachments, pooling water, cracks or holes in your gutters, or cracked foundation, call your professional contractor today.
Your flashing helps to protect your roof, prevent water damage, and keeps everything secure. When you have defective flashing, it can contribute to a number of other problems we’ve discussed in this article. Flashing helps to connect two different sections of a roof and other parts of your home. It’s fairly thin and you might think it’s easy to replace on your own, but the fragility of the material is what makes it difficult to install and fix properly. If you’re experiencing unexplained leaks, it may be due to defective flashing so call your roofing contractor to get an inspection. In the meantime, you can work to maintain your flashing throughout the year so that you don’t need to get it fixed or replaced as often. Make sure that it’s locked in place and sealed properly throughout the year to avoid unnecessary stress and exposure.
If you move into a home and notice roofing problems, the previous owners may have unfortunately used a company that did a poor roofing job. Sometimes this doesn’t come up in inspections because you can’t tell until something goes wrong. Unfortunately, if your roofing system was installed improperly, you’re going to need to hire a qualified contractor to fix it. If there are uniformity issues, you should notice it by a simple visual inspection. In this case, it will be included in a pre-buying inspection. However, if there are structural problems that don’t show up until later, you’re out of luck. If you have a roofing company come in and do work while you’re the homeowner, then notice signs of uniformity issues, contact the company immediately. If your roof looks asymmetrical or not uniform, it’s a sign that the installation wasn’t done the right way and needs to be fixed. The best way to avoid this problem is hire a reputable company like Advocate Roofing for all of your roofing needs.
Another problem that needs fixing is if someone installs a new roof on top of an existing roof. While some people think this is okay and is the best way to keep costs down, it can be dangerous and often goes against building codes. To keep you and your family safe, you should never install a new roof on top of an existing one. If you notice that this has already been done, call a professional to fix the problem. Reroofing is almost never a good idea and while it might save you money upfront, it will end up costing you in the long run.
Finally, if you have any structural damage to your roof or home, you need a qualified contractor. Structural support is imperative to keeping your house strong and your family safe, so at the first sign of structural damage, call a professional. You likely have structural damage if you have termites, notice a sagging roof, see any large wall or ceiling cracks, have uneven floors, notice signs of timber rot, have crumbling concrete or warped ceilings, see signs of exposed gaps between one or more walls, and have ill-fitting doors or windows. All of these point to signs of structural damage and need to be addressed immediately to avoid costly repairs or dangerous worst-case-scenarios.
If you notice any signs of damage or think that your roof might need to be replaced, contact the professionals at Advocate Roofing today. Our team of roofing contractors will come out and make a professional inspection to determine the best course of action. We’re trained to spot even the smallest signs of damage so we can fix the problems before they get out of hand. All of our roofing professionals have the experience and expertise you want when getting a detailed roof inspection and replacing your roof. We’ll provide an affordable estimate on the spot so that you don’t suffer through the annoyances, and costs, of prolonged damage.
Advocate’s experienced roofing contractors are here to make sure your roofing jobs are done efficiently with no hidden costs. We pride ourselves on working with integrity and longevity in mind. To contact an experienced roofing contractor from Advocate Roofing, give us a call today to learn about how you can get a free inspection at 833-409- ROOF (7663).