Roof damage doesn’t always need to be difficult to spot. Sometimes it’s actually pretty easy to find, and if you’re carefully watching out for it, you’ll be able to catch roof damage before it becomes so much of a problem that you have to replace your entire roof system.
Roof damage can lead to:
- Roof deck rotting
- Fascia rotting
- Leaks in your attic
- Trusses rotting
- Mold growth in your attic
If you want to keep your roof from becoming a problem and costing you lots of money, then you need to watch for these 7 obvious types of roof damage.
7 TYPES OF ROOF DAMAGE
1. WATER DAMAGE
Finding water damage caused by a leaky roof shouldn’t be too difficult. In fact, you’ll likely be able to know if your roof is leaking the first time it rains after a leak is created. While it’s definitely easy to see the signs of water damage, it can be difficult to pinpoint where that leak is coming into your home. A simple hose test is one way to find leaks. All you need to do is let the hose shoot water across your roof. That way, you can watch inside to quickly pinpoint the location of the leak.
2. MISSING SHINGLES
Missing roof shingles should be fairly easy to spot. You can also look for missing roof shingles in your attic because the light will be able to shine through. After any large storm that brings high wind, you should check if any shingles have blown off your roof.
The nice part about checking for missing shingles is that you can mostly do it from the ground, without having to get up on a ladder. If you don’t have a good view of all parts of your roof, give the pros a call.
3. DAMAGED GUTTERS
Storms can cause damage to your gutters, but they can also fill up with debris causing them to overflow. When your gutters overflow, they can cause water damage under your siding and lead to more problems and rot around your gutters.
Take the time to clean your gutters 3-4 times each year to ensure that they’re clean and free of any debris. This will also help them to hold up better during rain storms.
4. FASCIA AND SOFFIT PROBLEMS
If you notice that your roof is sagging, there’s a good chance it could be caused by an issue with the fascia and/or soffit. The roof system and the fascia hold up your roof, so if either of those is damaged, it can cause a lot of damage to the rest of the roof. And, while a sagging roof might not be a leaking roof, water might start to pool up more than it probably should on your roof.
Pooling water will ultimately lead to leaks and a loss of integrity in your roofing system.
5. CURLING SHINGLES
Curling roof shingles are a sign that your roof is damaged, and you need to take some action. Curling roof shingles can often be a sign that your roof has either blown back due to high winds or that it’s nearing the end of its life. Neither of these is a good thing to find, and you’ll want to contact a contractor as quickly as possible.
Curled shingles will be prone to problems a lot sooner than later. Ideally, you’ll be able to get those shingles replaced ASAP. And, if you think your roof is starting to near the end of its life, then we’d recommend having professionals like the team at MARS Restoration take a look at the roof. We can help you work through the decision to replace the roof and whether or not it’s urgent to have it repaired sooner than later.
6. GRANULES BUILT UP IN GUTTERS OR NEAR DOWNSPOUTS
Spotting missing granules isn’t always the easiest. In fact, sometimes it can be difficult if you’re looking at the shingles. Instead, you’ll need to look through the gutters, downspouts, and roof edges to determine if granules are missing. With this method, you’ll need to pay attention to the roof edge because that’s where your roof system meets whatever is underneath.
If you notice a lot of loose or chipped-off shingles, then there’s likely an issue. Hail, tree branches rubbing against your roof, or your shingles reaching their expected lifespan, can all cause granule loss. You can also check your roof for granules that have built up around the hips and valleys or in the gutters and downspouts.
7. LEAKS COMING INTO YOUR ATTIC
We covered leaks that come into your home visibly, but what about the leaks that are invisible to the untrained eye? When water comes into your attic through the roof, you might not notice it right away, but it can cause some serious damage over time. Water that goes unnoticed and leaks that don’t get fixed can lead to long-term problems.
The best way to find leaks in your attic is to get up into the attic and start looking for them. Thankfully if there’s a big enough leak, it shouldn’t take too long to spot. But, if it’s a really slow leak, you might not be able to spot the exact point where it’s coming in. We’d recommend reaching out to your local roofing company or MARS Restoration. At Mars, we offer free estimates, and that will include finding where the damage is at.
Finding damage in your roof is essential if you want to keep your home healthy and ready to handle everything that nature throws at it. Remember, we’re looking for;
- Water Damage
- Missing Shingles
- Damaged Gutter
- Facia and Soffit Problems
- Curling Shingles
- Missing Granules from the Shingles
- Leaks Coming into the Attic
Not all of these signs will be common on all types of roofs, but they are all common signs of damage on asphalt shingle roofs.
SET UP YOUR FREE ROOF INSPECTION WITH MARS
If you need help checking your roof for damage, our team at MARS Restoration can get out to your home within 24 hours to check on your roof and offer our expert opinion. Reach out to MARS Restoration today, and we’ll bring you stress-free roofing service.