When you think of your roof, you think of it as an accessory to your home – a cover over your head. But how many of us truly understand how significant a role roofs play in our lives? Imagine the four walls of your home and everything within it. While these four walls surround your home and form its foundation, it is your roof that protects the entire interior of your home – your rooms, the furniture in them, your valuables, family and pets. Most people spend a lot of money when buying or constructing their home or commercial facility, but tend to neglect their roofs.

In addition, if you hold off on your roof’s annual maintenance, you will be paying more money in the long run due to added damage. Save your wallet and your home by getting your roof checked out periodically. Here are seven warning signs that will help you assess your roof’s health and lifespan.

Curled or buckled shingles

If you see bent or buckled shingles on your roof, take note that you need a professional’s help to repair your roof. Shingles begin curling or start to buckle when moisture gets trapped in your attic. This moisture causes shingles to roll or curl up, pushing nails and screws out of their place and out of your roof’s decking. Buckled shingles can leave your roof exposed to the elements; small spaces can open up and invite animals and rodents looking for shelter thus leading to an infestation. This mishap can also cause your shingles to come loose and get blown away during heavy rain or storm.

Missing shingles

Missing shingles are a similar problem to curled shingles. If the damage from curling shingles are left unattended, your shingles could fall off completely. Missing shingles leave a gaping hole in your roof which makes your roof susceptible to further damage during extreme weather conditions, animal infestation, etc.

Tar streaking or algae growth

Tar streaking or algae growth occurs due to bacteria eating away your roof’s shingles and waterproofing properties. Be wise while choosing your roofing company, as there are a number of shingle manufacturers who use subpar materials to keep the cost of shingle production low. These inferior materials are incredibly prone to bacterial infestation. Furthermore, if you have trees anywhere near your home, wind can carry algae-based bacteria to your roof. Over time, this will leave unattractive black streaks that are caused when asphalt is exposed on the fibreglass mat of shingle. As soon as you see these black marks and moss or algae, this should immediately tell you that your roof’s shingles are losing their weatherproofing properties. Left unattended, these problems can seriously compromise the integrity of your roof.

Missing granules

Roofing granules provide your roof with UV protection, prevent colour fading and add beauty. They are used in the roofing industry and form a coating over your roofing sheets, making them weather-resistant, fire-resistant and radiation-resistant. These granules are partially embedded in one surface of an asphalt-coated fibre sheet. Just like with algae growth and tar streaking, missing granules are sure signs of roof damage. If your roof has gutters around it, simply check your gutters every now and then for granule build-up. You can also check your splash pan in your downspout for granules. If you find a lot of granules found in the gutters and flashings, it is time you got your roof inspected.

Lack of maintenance

At least once a year, head up to your attic and clean out the dust and cobwebs that have collected in your exhaust vents and ventilation system. Once this is done, caulk the areas around your pipes and vents and paint and exposed metal to prevent rusting. Remember to clean up leaves and debris that collects in your gutters, so they don’t get clogged and overflow. These steps can be done by yourself without the help of professionals. A yearly inspection like this will help you elongate your roof’s lifespan.

Moisture and mould

If your home or facility, in particular, your loft, is not appropriately ventilated, there are high chances of moist air getting trapped inside. During the winter, the air trapped inside will condense causing the underlying metal and nails to rust. Not only that but left for long enough, this can cause mould to grow and your plywood to rot, thus affecting your roof.

Sunlight streaming through roof boards

This is another visible sign of roof damage. If you go into your dark attic during the day and see light streaming through your roof’s decking, you may have a problem. This could mean that at a nail has fallen off or a shingle is missing, or there is a crack or tiny hole in your roof. The fact that light is streaming in means that there is a pathway for moisture, water or air to seep in and enter your home.

By following these tips and with a quick visual inspection, you can easily tell if your roof has sustained damage. Roofing problems can be a homeowner’s nightmare, so act before it is too late. If you think your roof is nearing the end of its lifespan or needs some maintenance, contact us at Dura Roof today. Our team of professionals will help identify the source of damage and rectify it immediately.