Taking Care of Your Roof
Most homeowners don’t think much about their roof until something goes wrong with it. Roof maintenance is easy to forget about — after all, if your roof looks fine, it’s probably working well, right? Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Your roof is surprisingly fragile and has a lot of parts that can be damaged without you knowing. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a skilled roofing contractor inspect your roof regularly — at least once a year, or whenever you suspect your roof has been damaged.
Your roof’s durability depends on a lot of factors. In this blog post, we’ll go over a few of these factors, as well as a few unexpected signs that your roof could need a little extra attention. With all these factors in mind, we’ll discuss how often you should have your roof inspected and maintained.
Hidden Roof Damage Symptoms
There are lots of signs that your roof could use some attention. The most obvious is definitely an active leak — which is always cause to call for roof repair. But there are more subtle symptoms that you can look out for. Even if you can’t see anything wrong with your roof, there could still be significant damage lurking out of sight. Below we’ll detail just a few signs that you could be dealing with hidden roof damage.
- Mold on exterior walls. If you notice mold or water damage on exterior walls or your ceilings, the water could be coming in through your roof. Even a tiny gap or hole in your shingles (like hail damage) can let in water. Left unchecked, this can easily lead to costly water damage. If you notice water damage and can’t figure out the cause, it may be time for a visit from a roofing expert.
- Rust on chimney flashing. Rusted, cracked, or damaged flashing (the flat pieces of metal that protect “corners” on your roof) is flashing that can’t do its job properly. Keep an eye on the flashing at roof corners and around the chimney and bathroom vents. Have it checked out by a professional if you notice anything off.
- Moss growing on the roof. Moss or algae growth on or around your shingles is a good indication that water is pooling somewhere it shouldn’t be. This isn’t just a mess, it’s a sign that you need to pay extra attention to your roof.
- Curling shingles. Similar to broken or missing shingles, shingles that are curled from age or exposure can’t protect your roof properly. Water can get underneath the curled edges of these shingles and cause the same problems.
- Granule loss. Asphalt shingles shed their granules with increased age and sun exposure. If you find asphalt granules in your gutters or on the ground around your house, especially if your roof is on the older side, it’s a good sign that it needs some maintenance.
When to Call a Roofing Contractor
If you notice any missing shingles on your roof, call a roofing company right away. Even a single missing shingle can lead to a lot of hidden roof damage very quickly. Once water gets underneath your shingles, it can’t evaporate away anymore. That means you have standing water trapped on top of the underlayment — which will quickly become a problem if left unattended. Water can quickly cause thousands of dollars of damage if nothing is done to clean it up and stop the leak.
So, if you notice a damaged or missing shingle, you should always call an experienced roofer right away. They’ll know what to do in order to mitigate damage to your roof. Even if you aren’t dealing with an actively leaky roof, it’s a good idea to have your roof inspected once a year.
How Often Should I Call for Roof Maintenance?
As a general rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to have regular roof inspections at least once a year. Even if you don’t think anything is wrong with your roof, routine maintenance can identify any potential issues before they spiral out of control. It’s always cheaper to catch these problems early rather than wait until they become too large to ignore.
Depending on the type of roofing material your home uses, you may be able to put off maintenance a little longer; asphalt shingles are the shortest-lived materials used in residential roofing services, while materials like tile and especially metal last much longer.
Do I Need to Replace My Roof?
Asphalt shingle roofs, made of the most common roofing material, usually last around two decades. If your roof is reaching the end of that time frame, even a small amount of roof damage could necessitate a full roof replacement. That’s because the shingles aren’t the only important part of the roof; other layers, such as the underlayment and decking, will definitely also need attention by the time your shingles begin to fail. Depending on the extent of the damage, it may be more cost-effective and efficient to reroof your home.
Count on EvoSiding For All Your Roofing Needs!
Whether you need your home’s siding replaced or a whole new roof installation done, the EvoSiding team is ready and waiting to handle the job. We promise quality services, quality materials, and courteous customer service. While we’re working on your home or business, you can count on us to treat it with the same respect we’d treat our own.
Our team can handle roofing projects of any scale, and we work with commercial and residential roofing. We strive for complete customer satisfaction in every job we take. For a winning combination of quality workmanship, extensive roofing experience, and a commitment to excellence throughout the entire process, you can count on the roofing crew from EvoSiding. Our team will always go the extra mile. Give us a call to get started with your roofing project!