Never ignore the condition of your roof. Ignoring problems now can lead to costly repair bills later. Besides normal wear and tear, storms often cause a large amount of damage that goes ignored or unnoticed.
Homemakers should not take their roof for granted or assume it never needs to be repaired or inspected. A well-constructed roof can stay intact for decades. So, even though problems can develop right over our heads, many homeowners don’t notice until it becomes too late to file a claim.
Every insurance company has different rules for deadlines when it comes to filing a claim. If a homeowner fails to file a claim in a timely manner (usually 1-2 years max) after noticing roof damage, the damages will not be covered. This means that an adjuster’s inspection can void your policy if significant enough storm damages are found. Check your insurance filing requirements and file as early as possible if you notice roof damage.
The typical homeowner spends over $7,000 annually on various home repair projects like replacing an HVAC system, a furnace, a wall, repairing the foundation, and so on.
The typical cost to replace a roof can cost anywhere between $5,500 to $11,400. Therefore, a roof replacement project for a large house with severe roofing damage can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
The most practical method to stay ahead of roof damage is to have your roof inspected every year. A skilled and professional roof inspector can spot small signs of roof damage before they become worse and costly to solve.
And you probably won’t have a problem noticing potential roof damage problems that need repair. Here are seven signs that your roof is damaged and in need of repairs.
Do you need help recognizing storm damage to your roof before it becomes a big problem? Then contact Advanced Consulting Inc. today.
Related: A.C. Inc – Frequently Asked Questions About Roof Repair
Unknown or Lapsed Roof Inspection Records
The average American roof can last for decades if you have it inspected regularly and take care of it. A typical roof can last anywhere from 20 years to 50 years, depending on construction craftsmanship.
Still, the average lifespan of a roof is usually about 30 years.
A well-maintained roof should have meticulous and well-documented inspection records dating back to its construction. Barring that, homeowners and commercial businesses alike should endeavor to have their roofs inspected by contractor professionals annually. And homeowners should keep roof inspection records throughout ownership.
Well-maintained roof inspection records track previous repairs and list potential problems that may need repairs in the future.
A good roofer must understand the weight of ice, snow, or water. Intense heat, wind, hail, and rain can incrementally wear down a roof. Small problems that aren’t spotted early will only become worse later.
If you don’t have any roof inspection records or haven’t contracted one in years, then you should schedule an inspection immediately. Signs of roof damage are probably just waiting to be discovered.
Sagging, Drooping, Warping, and Buckling
A surefire sign of roof damage is a visual sign of abnormal distortions of the ceiling. For example, does the ceiling sag or droop downwards in a convex shape? In addition, ice or water weighing down the roof may have evaporated or trickled away but still wreaked damage.
If you see signs of sagging, drooping, warping or buckling in your ceiling, contact a roof repair contractor immediately.
Warping and buckling of the ceiling and any accompanying support structures may indicate that the roof’s integrity may be compromised.
Mold
According to some statistics, over 70% of all homes and buildings in the United States have mold. Mold exposure can cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems in people with sensitive conditions.
The only way to deal with mold in the home is to have it professionally cleaned or parts of the house removed and replaced. Once molds creep through the home’s interior structure, they will try to grow and spread everywhere. And mold spores will float aimlessly around in the air posing a health risk.
Sometimes mold problems occur when a pipe bursts in a wall or under a sink. But sometimes, mold problems can start from the top of the home and spread downwards. For example, rain and humidity seeping through small cracks and openings in the roof can be the start of a harmful mold problem.
A professional inspection can identify and confirm areas in your attic space where mold may be present before it becomes a more expensive endeavor.
Advanced Consulting uses non-invasive testing to identify areas of irregular moisture content using a Tramex Meter as well as an IR camera inspection. We send all our clients a report showing any areas of concern supported by real data.
Bouncing Recoil
A roof structure is usually layers of protective membrane or shingles on top of the roof structure. When you walk across a roof, it should be firm without any sagging or give.
Or bounce.
If you walk across your roof and slightly bends, sinks, and then bounces back, call a roof inspector immediately. If your roof offers bounce back when you step on it, it’s a sign of roof damage.
Leaky Ceiling
The most telling visual sign of roof damage is water leaking from the ceiling. And make sure to check your attic for similar indications.
Sometimes, water leaking from your ceiling won’t be very obvious. For example, if you look up and see cloudy, discolored staining on your ceiling, it is probably mold developing from a small leak you can’t see.
Small or large leaks allow moisture to enter your roof and the interior frame of your house. Also, moisture contracts and expands accordingly with temperature changes, so any small cracks or openings in the roof will get bigger over time.
Don’t wait to contact a professional for repairs if you notice leaks from your ceiling under your roof.
Mysteriously Increasing Energy Bills
Sunlight and water penetrating your roof are not the only signs that you may have holes in your roof. Sometimes, the holes in your roof may be so small or unnoticeable that you may never notice them.
A particular sign that you have roof damage is mysteriously increasing energy bills. The average energy bill is $115, depending on where you live and your monthly energy use.
Heat and air escaping from holes in your roof will force your cooling and heating systems to overcompensate for the breaches unbeknownst to you.
If your energy bills mysteriously keep increasing, then have your roof inspected.
Physical Factors
There are other ways to identify storm damage visible to the naked eye that a trained inspector will be able to use for evaluation. These can include ripped or torn shingles, exposed decking visible from the ground, shingles in the yard, or on steep slope roofs sometimes hail hits can be seen on shingles from the ground
Get Your Roof Inspected Today
Most potential roof damage problems will be visible and noticeable. However, you may have severe roof damage problems that can’t be recognized with a visual scan.
Advanced Consulting can distinguish between storm damages and poor workmanship or normal wear and tear.
Get your roof seen by a professional at least once a year or after storm season to look for potential roof damage.
Make sure that your roof lasts for decades by having it inspected once a year. Call Advanced Consulting Inc. today to schedule an inspection.
Related: Advanced Consulting Services