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7 Damages That Can Occur To A Roof

Just like other parts of your house, your roof plays a crucial role in maintaining a happy home. It’s considered a good defense against heat, hail, wind, snow, and many more. Unfortunately, your roof is always exposed to weather hazards and other elements that can cause damage and deterioration.

Thus, if you want to take care of your roof and improve its lifespan, you should get familiar with the following damages that can occur to it and what you can do about them:

1. Moisture Damage

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When moisture goes past your shingles, it’s always bad news to your roofing. It can cause decay, mildew, mold, moss, and rot, which weaken your roof and overall house structure. Typically, moisture damage occurs when there are torn underlayments, cracked and lose tiles due to failed sealants, and many more.

Hence, if you notice some stained ceilings or walls around your house, it can be a sign that moisture has already damaged your roof. However, you should understand that moisture damage happens even if the signs aren’t yet visible, which is why you should regularly conduct quality roof maintenance to avoid this problem.

2. Broken And Loose Shingles

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Generally, shingles aren’t designed to last for a lifetime. But when these materials aren’t properly installed, the problem gets worse, making your overall roofing structure weak. But, aside from improper installation, strong winds and heavy hail, along with bad adhesives and weak flashing, can wear and tear your shingles.

Therefore, when this happens, it’s essential that you replace the shingles with new ones as quickly as possible. That way, you can rest assured knowing your roofing is in good working condition at all times.

3. Cracks And Punctures

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Another roof damage that you should keep in mind is the cracks and punctures. These can be caused by poor maintenance or installation, flying debris during strong windstorms, cracked flashing, torn underlayments, moisture barriers, fragile roofs, improper use of tools, and many more.

Thus, if you notice some cracks and punctures in your roofing, then it’s time to get a repair service. If you think the repair isn’t enough, you may consider calling an expert roof technician to fix the problem and prevent further damage. To find reliable roofing professional, you can check trcroof.net for more information.

4. Worn-Down And Aging Roofing Materials

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Your overall roofing structure may also be damaged when you have worn-down and aging materials. Typically, rust and moss, grayed-out shingles, and piles of shingles granules are some signs that your roof needs work or a full replacement.

Remember, when roofing materials are working beyond their lifespans, they quickly become old and fragile. To make sure you’re not dealing with a damaged roof, call for a professional roofer to perform a quick inspection and determine whether you need a replacement or repair job. In case you need to make some replacements, be sure to choose the best roofing materials that’ll work best for you and your situation.

5. Damaged Roof Flashing

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One of the important roofing materials to take care of is the flashing. Generally, roof flashing refers to a thin sheet of aluminum being installed below your shingles. It helps protect your roofing’s internal structure from water damage.

If you notice some problems around your skylights, chimneys, or anywhere that the two joints of the roof meet, it’s an indicator that your roof flashing is damaged. However, when this occurs, it can leave your roof susceptible to nasty leaks. Unfortunately, water leaks in your roof can result in the following:

  • Electrical damage – It’s no question that water is an excellent conductor of electricity. This means that an electrical conductor that’s in contact with water will also become charged. When this happens, your home may be susceptible to fire hazards, electrical shock, and damage to the electrical system. Hence, if your roof suffers from water leaks, your electrical wirings are at risk. Also, it’s essential to keep in mind that any electrical problem will never be an easy problem to fix.
  • Ceiling and wall damage – In addition to electrical damage, a leaking roof can also cause significant ceiling and wall damage. For example, when the water starts to drip down from your home’s rafter, it’ll stay on the ceiling and run down the walls. This is how damage to your ceiling and wall occurs. However, dealing with this kind of damage can be very expensive as it potentially requires the complete removal and replacement of drywall. That’s why if you want to do this project successfully, contact an experienced roofing company to take care of the job for you.

As you can see, a damaged roof flashing can lead to significant repair or renovation. To prevent these issues from happening and further damaging your roofing structure, make sure to replace the water sealant on a regular basis to keep it watertight.

6. Roof Moss Damage

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If your house is located in regions that experience humid weather, you may have to deal with a lot of moss growing on the rooftop. This damage may be due to some sections of the roof that are exposed to rainy weather.

While moss and other fungi may seem harmless, they can still impact the structural integrity of your roof and, consequently, cause damage over time through water leaks. To fix this issue and prevent further roof damage, you may hire a residential roofing contractor to see if restoration or any other remedies is possible.

7. Structural Damage

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When the support underneath your roof begins failing or shifting, or your roof tends to buckle or tilt, it can be a sign of structural damage. This usually happens when there are cracks and tears in the roof, rusty or damaged flashings, curling wood shingles/shakes, and many more.

To solve this kind of roof damage, you can get a roofing professional to help give you peace of mind. By making the necessary repairs or even a replacement, you can protect your home from damage.

The Takeaway

Realistically speaking, dealing with roof problems can be frustrating and time-consuming. They can put you and your property at risk of safety hazards and cost you hundreds to thousands of dollars for repairs and other related jobs.

Therefore, if you want to save yourself the trouble of costly repairs, keep the information mentioned above in mind so you’ll know what roof damages you should be aware of. By knowing the different damages that can occur to a roof, you’ll be encouraged to take some preventive steps, including regular roof maintenance to ensure a functional and damage-free roofing structure for your home.

About Jeanette Iglesias