Keeping your home protected and in good condition can be stressful, but fortunately, your roof indicates when it needs repair or replacement. The other good news is that you do not need to be a licensed roofer to notice the signs in your home. South Florida Roofing Contractors say that there are some signs that you can detect that indicate you need to call a roofer right away. The first place to start looking for these issues is in your attic, but you can also find signs of damage outside of your home.
1. Rays of Light
Go into your attic during the daytime and look up. Do you see sunlight coming in from outside? If so, then that indicates that there are gaps between the boards where sunlight is getting in. Rain or insects are also able to get into your home.
2. Musty Odor
Do you notice a musty odor in your home that is particularly strong when you walk into any specific room? A musty odor indicates that mold is growing. Mold grows on moist services and thrives during the wetter months. Mold grows on plywood, paper in your drywall, and any type of wood used in your attic, causing breathing problems.
3. Water Stains on the Ceiling
Go into your attic or the uppermost room of your home and look up at your ceiling, paying attention to the corners. If you notice gray, brown, orange, or black discoloration on your ceiling that has an irregular shape, then that is a sign of water damage caused by moisture coming in through the roof.
4. Mold “Blooms”
If you have blooms on your walls, then the mold issue is spreading. Described for their shape similar to a large flower, mold “blooms” are gray, green, orange, black, or brown and appear on walls. Sometimes they are especially prominent in bathrooms where there is even more moisture than the rest of the house, but not always.
5. Sagging Roof
There are signs outside your house indicating that you need to replace your roof as soon as possible. Step away from your home so you can see the entirety of the roof from the ground and check for sagging. Saggin is caused by insufficient internal bracing or undersized rafters or trusses, and can be exacerbated by the weight of rain, snow, or too many layers of shingles.
6. Cracked Or Missing Shingles
Each shingle on your roof protects your home from the elements and unwanted pests. If one gets cracked, it can allow water to seep underneath surrounding shingles and the flashing. Eventually, the moisture will make its way into your home. The good news is that if you contact a professional roofer immediately, they may only have to replace that one shingle. However, if you notice missing or damaged shingles throughout the roof, you may need a whole roof replacement.
7. Leaks
Leaks are indisputable signs that your roof needs to be replaced. Leaks lead to a host of other problems, from slip and fall accidents to mold growth. In order to protect your family and your home, you should immediately call a roofer to replace a leaky roof.
