Buying a house is a significant investment and requires a lot of planning. So, designing your ideal home begins with deciding on the aesthetics.

Roofs help portray the vision of your house on the outside. You may choose a Hip, Gable, or Flat roof according to your preference. Roofing is an expensive process using materials that can endure extreme climates, ranging from blistering heat to hail and snowstorms.

However, homeowners often fail to notice wear and tear on the roof until it has caused significant damage. Hence, regular inspection is imperative to maintain your roof.

8 Common roofing problems

When minor issues in the roof remain unchecked, they can snowball into critical problems damaging your entire house. So, listed below are the 8 most common roofing problems and the ways to tackle them.

1. Leakages

Roof leaks are common in most homes regardless of the type of roofing system. They occur due to various causes such as cracked, blistered, or missing shingles, insufficient insulation, inappropriate ventilation, improper installations, etc. 

However, these issues are suspected only when stained walls or mold growth is visible.

So, if you come across any such signs, request an inspection by a contractor at the earliest to find the underlying issue before it expands and causes structural damage to the house. 

While waiting for the assessment, you may attach a temporary tarpaulin cover to the surface to prevent seepage onto the floor.

• Improper ventilation

Proper ventilation is necessary for a well-functioning roof. Ventilation can keep your attic free from heat and moisture. Inadequate ventilation promotes mold growth in the attic and weakens the roof. 

Also, it causes an increase in the internal temperature of your home as there is no escape route for the heat produced inside.

A professional contractor can be called for an inspection to install a proper roof and attic ventilation system.

• Poor quality material and installation

Roofing is a process that is integral to keeping the house safe and must be done using the best quality material available. However, you may sometimes encounter issues with tiles or shingles due to harsh weather conditions, poor quality material, or poor installation methods. 

Such exposure to the roof is an emergency that requires immediate attention. The longer the structure is exposed, the more likely it is to rot. And this can weaken the entire roof structure, making it collapse.

So, in such a scenario, ensure to hire an experienced roofing contractor based on extensive research from online sources and word-of-mouth recommendations. They can mend and re-install your roof using top-quality materials.

There are always some uncertain factors against which you cannot protect your roof beforehand. Weather and trees are the primary examples of such damage. 

Branches of any size can cause significant damage to your roof due to the impact of falls and friction, causing erosion of shingles and flashing. Such problems usually occur as an aftermath of storms and are immediately noticeable.

Dealing with such damage is a lengthy process, which can be simplified if you have a house insurance policy. 

First, inspect the damage and document it before calling your insurance company. Depending on the amount of damage, it is likely that your insurance claim will cover the cost of the repairs.

Additionally, inspect nearby trees to avoid future problems. Ensure that the branches of the trees on your property are kept short.

• Draining issues

Most roofs have gutters at the edge to prevent the accumulation of rainwater and debris. However, clogged or incorrectly installed gutter systems may cause leakage on the roof edges that seep through the wall, dampening it. But it may not be immediately noticeable.

So, installing a drip edge on your roof can make the gutter slightly sloped, causing any accumulated water or wastes to run downwards. Regular cleaning can also help keep your gutter system free of buildup. 

Lastly, installing gutter screens can prevent roof drain blockages. However, to better prevent drainage problems, you can opt for Advance Exterior Solutions that can optimize your gutter system effectively.

• Falling Granules

Granule installation protects your roof’s shingles from the UV rays emitted by the sun and makes them flame retardant. But when granules begin to fall, shingles can crack due to the heat, causing further damage, such as water accumulation on the roof, leakages, fire outbreaks, etc.

Well, falling granules are not always an issue. It may be due to excessive granules being packed onto the tiles by the manufacturer. But a constant loss of granules may signify a defective product. So, in such a case, contact the manufacturing company immediately.

Besides, loss of granules can also occur due to loosened bonds, blistered shingles, excessive moisture, and harsh weather conditions. So, you must ask for a professional contractor’s inspection to resolve the issue. 

However, be extremely careful while treading the roof for examination, as excessive friction may cause granule loss.

• Worn Flashing

Flashing materials are made of plastic or metal that prevents crease formations on the weakest structures of the roof, chimneys, and skylights. Cracked or loosened flashing materials allow water absorption, threatening the structural integrity of your roof.

So, you need to fill the corroded spots with roofing cement if the grooves are few and not too difficult to patch. But if it has affected a large expanse of shingles, you may have to remove 

• Eroded Shingles

Eroded shingles are a frequent occurrence caused due to the loosening of the bond of the sealant. It can happen due to the regular wear and tear, exposure to the harsh climate, and excessive treading. Erosion of shingles may also cause an accumulation of water, pests, etc., on your roof.

Shingles are perhaps the easiest to replace or repair among all the above-stated problems. Moreover, it can be done without an expert’s help if you have the requisite skill.

Conclusion

Roof repairs are a constant worry for homeowners. But with proper maintenance and regular inspections, you can keep your roof intact and house safe in the long run. Thus, it would be best to leave roof repairs and maintenance to professionals so that they can solve the problems and ensure corrective measures to prevent future occurrences.