Spotting damage to your roof can instantly put a pit in your stomach as you think about all of the potential problems that can come from this initial discovery. While a damaged roof will need immediate attention and repair, spotting the signs as early as possible is the most important thing to remember.
What To Look For When Inspecting the Outside
Living in Maine, you’ll likely see the first signs of damage after a day of heavy winds. While the natural wonders of the state are beautiful, the mix of heavily wooded areas and consistent winds year-round can lead to frequent drops of heavy branches.
Your roof is designed to handle these types of situations but the consistency of the problem will eventually lead to broken shingles or even deeper damage. If you notice a broken shingle, it can be a sign of what’s happening underneath it or be a tell that your shingles are in need of replacement due to their age.
Shingles can also point to other problems aside from external damage. If shingles get any debris under them, a gap forms that reduces the protection being provided by the layered roof material. The insulation of your home can also suffer if too many shingles are showing gaps as they can no longer reduce heat transfer from the outside into your home.
One last item to look out for when it comes to the exterior of your roof. Aside from regular damage, shingles will start to crumble over time which can lead to the shingle gap and insulation problems mentioned above.
Replacing the shingles as soon as possible can save you from more costly repairs down the road, but taking the opportunity to look for a roof that can better handle the wind and snow Maine sees could be an even better investment.
Interior Damage Has Surface Level Signs
Now that you’ve visually inspected the outside of your roof, it’s time to check your walls and ceiling to make sure there aren’t any issues going unseen from the inside. Damage to the exterior of your roof can cause more physical damage while the indoor signs of damage are more dangerous concerning the health of you and your family.
Being the most noticeable, mold will start to grow on your ceiling when your roof is letting moisture into the walls and attic. We’ve all seen the brown spots that look like someone spilled coffee on the ceiling which is the exact sign of water damage from a leaky roof. While the water stain is cosmetic, the weakened portions of ceiling are a concern.
Another issue that sprouts from a leaky roof is the potential for mold to begin growing into colorful colonies that can quickly spread throughout your home’s framework. If you have an attic, you’ll be able to identify mold by the smell or the dark colored patches along the floor.
It’s important to make sure you have regular roof maintenance conducted to spot and address these signs before they become a truly worrying problem. Our team of local Maine roofers understands what a roof needs to survive the weather and we only use the highest-quality materials and vendors to make sure your roof work lasts.
Regular maintenance can prevent damage and can determine when a good time is to replace an older roof before it gets too old and starts to show signs of damage. Whether you need repairs or are looking for a new roof or siding, Roofer’s Elite is the roofer for you. Give us a call today!