Over 64.8 percent of Americans are homeowners. Getting the keys to your own home is a joyous occasion for many.
However, as the years progress you can often expect to do maintenance on your home. One of the main areas you will find yourself having to maintain is your roof.
There are many different types of problems you can experience with your roof. Learning how to identify them will help you to recognize the signs quickly so that you can act fast and incur fewer expenses.
Here are the most common roof problems you will experience as a homeowner.
1. Leaking Roof
Perhaps the most common roofing problem is leakage. This can be caused by many things. However, the common culprits are broken shingles, slates or tiles.
Leakage normally occurs more frequently in certain parts of a roof. The most common ones are near the chimney, around gutters and skylights as well as close to vents and pipes. Aside from actually seeing the roof leaking you may notice discolored ceilings and damp walls.
When you have a leaking roof act fast because it is only going to get worse.
2. Pooled Water
Pooled water is another common thing that can happen to your roof. The pooling of water is likely to happen after heavy rains if you have a flat roof.
If the water takes a long time to dry up you could find yourself facing rotting shingles and mold damage. The easiest solution to this problem is to create tapered areas along the surface of the roof. It is these slopes that will help the water to drain off the roof and prevent water damage.
3. Don’t Get Punctured
Punctures in your roof can happen in several different ways. It can be caused by birds or other animals scampering, pecking or building nests or it may be caused by human traffic. This means that damage can occur when you go up to inspect something or even to get an issue fixed.
Roofs were not made to be walked on by humans or to be crawled on or pecked by animals. Over the year you may find that areas start to sink a little. You may even notice tiny holes in the roof. Once this happens it exposes the underlying wood to moisture and the end result will be rotting.
4. Shrinkage of Roof Materials
Shrinkage of roofing materials is something you can expect to happen as your roof begins to age. The shrinkage of roofing material compromises the entire structure of the roof.
Once shrinkage occurs it may cause flashing that was previously used to patch holes to come apart. Shrinkage will also let in moisture and this can cause cracking and other forms of deterioration to start happening.
5. Blisters
Blisters on your roof can help to forms cracks and ridges in the roof. If you have a roof that is built-up you are especially susceptible to this.
A built-up roof is one that started out as flat and then had several layers put on it to build it up. Damage to these kinds of roofs will cause moisture to move from one layer to next causing extensive damage if the blisters are not fixed quickly.
6. Damage from Ice and Snow
Ice and snow damage is likely to happen during winter when it settles on the roof. When the ice and snow melt this water will seep underneath your shingles. To make matters worse the water will freeze underneath the shingles.
The ice underneath will then push the shingles off the roof and leave huge holes in your ceiling through which even more ice and snow can come through. In no time you will have an intense situation on your hands because ice and snow will literally come inside your home.
The best way to make sure that you are not left vulnerable to this kind of damage is to schedule regular roof maintenance. This should be done in the spring and the fall season. An inspection such as this can reveal vulnerabilities in your roof so that you can fix them before the winter season comes around.
7. Damage from Trees
Tree damage is another common roofing problem that occurs. Trees have their purpose but one that is too close to your house becomes a liability.
If there are branches that rub against your roof on a daily basis then it is likely that it is causing scratches on your roof. This can wear down the top layer of your roof. Once the top layer goes the bottom layers start to get damaged as well.
As much as it may pain you to cut down a tree it is something you must do if it poses a threat to your roof. However, you should always look into whether or not a tree can be pruned or limbed to prevent roof damage before cutting it down.
8. Irregular Maintenance
Procrastinating when it comes to maintenance of your roof is one of the quickest ways to find yourself doing research about how to repair a leaking roof. If you are proactive then many of the common roofing problems that have been discussed so far can be avoided.
The bottom line is that your roof is the most essential component of your home. Be strict about routine maintenance so that you are not left battling the elements when things go wrong.
A Final Look at Roof Problems
When you become a homeowner at some point you will experience roof problems. However, whenever you do experience such problems don’t get discouraged or panic. Instead, act fast to fix the damage before it spreads and causes more problems.
Remember that you need to schedule regular maintenance so that you can spot problems even before they start. A great way to keep on top of things is to schedule reminders on your phone or other devices, in this way you will never forget about maintenance even with a busy schedule.
If you would like to learn more about home maintenance, please read this informative article.
