In our rush to remodel the kitchen for the twentieth time, it isn’t uncommon to forget about the damaged roof overhead! It is a fundamental rule of good house ownership to check, maintain and renovate the basics first, before thinking about a remodeling project. As roofs are often subjected to the highest amount of damage, it is mandatory that we keep a close eye on them, before losing the literal roof over our heads!
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Tips to Repair Damaged Roof
Unfortunately, not all types of roof damage are visible to the naked eye, and sometimes, it might already be too late by the time the signs of roof damage begin to become visibly obvious. If and when that happens, the expenses could go up by thousands of dollars, so here are a few pointers that should help homeowners keep hidden roof damage at bay and avoid unwanted roof repair costs.
A Gutter that Clogs Far Too Often
Neither can you exactly see a clogged gutter, nor can you see the damage it causes to your roof until it’s too late. What you can see and smell, however, are signs of both. When water gets trapped by dead animal carcasses, leaves, branches, hairballs, etc. it begins to sit against the exteriors of your home, and especially the roof. Over time, this trapped water will not only decay and rot the material of your roof from the outside, but some of the water will also seep inside the roof as well. This will eventually rot your entire roof, coupled with bacterial, insectile and fungal growths, without even showing up, before it’s already damaged to a great extent. Signs to look out for include:
- The smell of rotting leaves, twigs, water and even animal carcasses, near the gutter
- Frequent or chronically clogged gutters that require clearing often, but never really seem to be completely clean
- The smell of rotting wood from areas of your house, near the gutter
If these signs are present, act fast and call in a handyman or gutter repair company immediately to have your roof checked for water damage and your gutter properly cleaned. Keep in mind that for a handyman roof repair jobs may or may not be part of their expertise, so be sure to call professionals who actually specialize in roof maintenance and renovations.
An Old Roof that is Losing Its Shingles
The job of shingles is simple, but extremely vital for the roof to remain in good quality. Each fallen shingle exposes the roof’s vulnerable surface to the sun, moisture, snow, rain, storms and everything else that it provides protection from.
As a result, while you may only see a few fallen shingles, given enough time, they can become points of entry for extreme roof damage. Replace your shingles as soon as you notice them falling off, but not before having the roof checked by roofers to see if any significant damage has already been done. If damage underneath the shingles is found, it will need to be addressed first, before replacing the shingles.
A Leaky Attic
If an attic is leaking, that’s an obvious sign of roof damage, and shouldn’t be part of the hidden signs we are discussing here. However, what if the damage is only minute and you just aren’t aware of the leaks because it hasn’t rained? Go into your attic during the day, switch off the lights, try to make it as dark as possible. Then look for sunlight coming in through tiny holes or gaps. If you can see rays of the sun making their way through, you need to call a roof repair professional as soon as possible.
A house is similar to a human body in that it requires frequent check ups, regular maintenance and a few renovations every now and then. If you end up neglecting those steps for too long, the end result will be quite expensive, be it in the form of roof replacement bills or medical bills!
