By: John Thurber
By and large, water damage from a compromised roof doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, it’s the result of wear over time. On this account, thorough routine roof inspections can almost always help you avoid serious water damage to your home. Couple your roof inspections with your biannual gutter cleanings and keep an eye out for these nine specific problems.
Inspect interior spaces
Sagging: Inspect the ceiling throughout your home.- Dark spots and water lines: When inspecting the ceiling for sagging, also keep an eye out for dark spots or lines that can indicate water intrusion.
Sagging:Inspect gutters
- Shingle granules in the gutters: Advanced wear to shingles can cause granules to come loose and wash into gutters.
- Clogged gutters: Clean out debris so water can drain properly.
Inspect the roof itself
- Sagging: Assess your roof deck carefully. Sagging can mean underlying rot from water intrusion.
- Damaged flashing: This can cause water to permeate roof penetrations
- Missing or damaged shingles: Shingles are your roof’s first line of defense against the elements. Damage can appear as rotting, curling, blistering, buckling or cupping and shingles can become torn, cracked or bald, increasing moisture permeability.
- Moisture and mold: Persistently wet shingles indicate that moisture is running underneath them and settling at the lowest point. Mold is an indicator that shingles aren’t drying out.
- Algae and moss: The growth of either of these elements indicate persistent moisture against shingles. Algae tends to grow in hot, humid climates while moss grows in cooler, humid climates.
If you discover any of these red flags during your roofing inspection, give us a call. We can help you determine if it’s time to repair or replace your existing roof. We can be reached at 763.314.0234 and would love to hear from you!