The roof is an integral part of the house, and its care and maintenance needs are often forgotten about. A bad roof may drive down the resale cost of a home when it is time to sell the house, as the cost to overhaul the whole roofing system of a house is far more than the cost of repairs. In addition, a faulty roof poses danger to the people living under it until fixed or replaced. Conducting regular repairs on your roof is highly recommended to extend its lifespan. This article discusses some of the common signs that indicate your roof requires repair.
Sagging Roof
Apart from the intended pitch on your roof, the roof deck should be relatively straight along its lines. Dipping corners which show signs of warping are an indication of roof quality deterioration. The sagging of the roof may be caused by added weight to the roof, structural weakening of the roof's support or even poor framing during the original construction. Regardless, a sagging roof is a sure sign of roof instability and shows that the roof is in need of repair.
Blocked Gutters
Gutters may get clogged with shingle granules or chips as the roof material wears down due to the elements of weather. Chipping, cracking and wearing down of the roofing material can be detected by regular monitoring of gutter joints for evidence of debris. Blocked gutters may also cause water to spill from the sides of the gutter, damaging lawns or delicate flower beds around the house.
Broken or Missing Roof Material
This is a standard sign that a roof needs repair, where parts of the roof lack the original roofing material or have broken pieces of roofing. It may be caused by harsh weather elements such as high winds, hail, snow and extreme expansion from the sun's heat. This causes the roofing material to break apart and open up space for the penetration of water, snow and rodents into the roof's interior. An unintended irregular look on your roof exterior might signify damage to the roof and a precursor to future problems if not repaired on time.
Water Stains on the Ceiling
A leaking roof will mostly manifest through marks on the ceiling showing the spread of the water on the ceiling surface. Roof joints may be wearing down or holes may be in existence on the roof, causing water to pass through the roof onto the ceiling. Apart from making unattractive marks on the ceiling, a leaking roof may cause problems with the electrical wiring of a house, potentially causing harm and destruction.