Many establishments are durable enough to withstand the elements, but their roofs may be another story. The roof may look sturdy, but the damage may accumulate over time. Failing to notice the signs to repair your roof may lead to disastrous results. For example, you don’t want to find yourself caught in a rainy evening with water dripping down your ceiling. With that in mind, here are four signs you should contact a roofing company to fix your roof.
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1. Obvious Signs of Damage
You can start with the apparent signs of damage on your roof. Look for cracks and lost shingles. At first, your roof might look perfectly fine when looking at it from the inside. Even if chinks or holes appear, or if there are missing shingles, the roof may seem to be in perfect working order.
Unwanted openings on your roof may cause more significant damage when left unattended. Damage from rainfall may become more substantial over time because of holes on the roof. Water can get into walls, which can become a culprit that damages the establishment’s structural integrity. It may also cause molds, which may lead to several health concerns for people within the vicinity.
Perhaps the best way to know if there is damage on the roof of your establishment is to head outside and look. You may need to use a stepladder to check for visible signs of structural damage. If the problem seems too broad for Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects, consider calling a trustworthy roofing company.
2. Check the Documents
Your home or business establishment may be reaching its 25th birthday. If so, check the documents containing records of any improvement projects done on your home. Check the date for your roof’s installation or roof replacement.
Take note that a standard asphalt shingle roof may last between 20 to 25 years. However, a roof installed on top of a layer of shingles may need repairs or replacements after 20 years. Confirm the date of the roof’s installation and improvement projects over the years by checking your documents. If you can’t find the papers, then you can contact a reliable roofing contractor in your area instead.
3. Material Matters
Determining if you need a roofing repair solution may depend on the material used in the construction of your establishment’s roof. The following are a few materials used in the development of roofs, and the signs you need to know if it needs repairs:
- Tiles
First, get a stepladder to look at your roof from the outside. Remember, don’t walk on tiled roofs. While tiles may last over a century with the right maintenance procedures, the weight of an adult human being may cause the material to break. Also, damage from falling tree branches may cause the tiles to crack or break. Ask a roofing contractor if they can fix your roof by replacing damaged tiles.
- Cedar
According to a report from bestplaces.net, the average rainfall experienced in Bedford, Indiana is 47 inches per year. In comparison, the US national average is 38 inches of rain per year. Furthermore, the same report states that the city has about 189 sunny days per year compared to 205 days on average for the rest of the US.
With that in mind, the water damage, accompanied by hot days, may make cedar crack and split. The material may also become mossy because of the city’s climate. Furthermore, the average lifespan of a cedar roof is 20 years. Contact a roofing company when you see damage on your cedar roof.
- Concrete
Concrete roofs never need replacing, but that doesn’t mean the material is impervious to damage. Cracks may still form, and it can worsen if left unchecked. A local roofing contractor may help you fill the gaps on your concrete roof.
4. Granules in the Gutter
Take note: if you find granules in your gutter, but you have new asphalt shingles, that’s not a cause for worry. These granules are loose, extra material coming from your roof. However, if it’s been about 10 or 15 years since the installation of your roof, then it may be time for repairs.
These granules help keep the heat of the sun off of the asphalt. The shingles will begin to bake under the weather when the granules fall off. As a result, your roof may deteriorate quicker than its intended lifespan. Have your asphalt roof reshingled or repaired when this sign appears.
Final tip: If you can’t find a good roofing company in your city, search for a firm within the state that can do intercity services.
