Do You Need Roof Repair? 8 Hidden Signs of a Damaged Roof

Sharing is caring!

Homeowners never want to put off needed residential roof repair, as ignoring damage allows holes and cracks to get worse over time. A damaged roof also lets out your home’s heated and cooled air throughout the year while letting in outside heat and cold, increasing your utility costs.

Signs of a damaged roof include:

1. Discoloration along its surface
2. Missing shingles
3. Shingle granules in gutters and elsewhere
4. Increased utility costs
5. An uncomfortable interior environment
6. Buckled or curved shingles
7. Interior water leaks and ceiling stains
8. Sagging and other uneven areas

The sooner a homeowners addresses needed roof repairs, the less costly that work and the less likely that damage spreads or allows water to seep into the home’s interior spaces. To ensure you’re keeping your entire home in good repair and know when to call for a residential roof inspection, note some added details about these signs of roof damage.

It’s also helpful to review indications that your home might need a full-scale roof replacement rather than repairs, as well as various residential roofing materials on the market today. You can then discuss your options with a roof repair contractor near you and know that your home’s roof is always strong and stable and looking its best!

8 Hidden Signs of a Damaged Roof

A roof doesn’t need to outright collapse to be in need of serious repairs! Timely repairs keep damage from spreading, as said, and help to contain repair costs. Note some additional details about common yet often overlooked signs of needed roof repairs so you know when to call a contractor and schedule an inspection.

• Discoloration along a roof’s surface often indicates water damaged or dried, brittle shingles. Damaged shingles are more likely to blow away in a storm or simply fall away from the roof.
• Damaged shingles also let water seep into a roof’s lower layers, leading to more damage and the risk of interior water leaks.
• A sagging, uneven roof might also look discolored. Ignoring sagging spots increases the risk of outright roof collapse!
• A few missing shingles after a storm is not unusual and doesn’t necessarily indicate the need for large-scale repairs. However, no matter the weather or reason for missing shingles, it’s still recommended that you schedule a residential roof inspection. Old, corroded nails and connectors or lots of worn or missing shingles might risk damage to a roof’s underlayment.
• As shingles age, their granules tend to dry out and fall away. You might then notice those granules in the home’s gutters, along your lawn and landscaping features close to the house, and elsewhere.
• Shingle granules help prevent standing water and resultant water damage along a roof’s surface while also providing traction for roofing contractors! Those granules also give shingles an added layer of protection against outside weather conditions. When they fall away, it’s time for an inspection and potential roofing repairs.
• A home’s roof is a major part of its overall insulation. Missing shingles, holes in the roof, worn-out materials and other such damage all let out your heated and cooled air while also letting in hot and cold air from outside as well as excessive humidity.
• When a roof wears down like this over time and lets out your heated and cooled air, your HVAC appliances then cycle on more often, to reach and maintain the temperature on your home’s thermostat. If you notice increased utility costs throughout the year, schedule a roof inspection.
• Along with increased utility costs, roof damage also tends to lead to an uncomfortable interior environment. Drafts in wintertime and excessive humidity in summer that your home’s HVAC system cannot keep up with and correct might indicate the need for residential roof repairs!
• As shingles age and dry out or absorb water and soften, they might then buckle or curve and pull away from the home’s roof. If you notice buckled shingles and especially if there is storm debris, algae, or other residues trapped under those shingles, it’s time for a full-scale roof inspection!
• Water leaks and stains along a home’s ceiling can be caused by interior plumbing leaks; however, if your home’s plumbing is in good repair, the roof might very well be the culprit! Holes in a roof allow in water and moisture which then runs along plumbing fixtures and building materials, leading to water drips and stains on ceiling tiles.
• A homeowner might stand on the sidewalk or even across the street from their home and check the overall surface of the roof. Does any area look as if it’s sagging or can you see what looks like creases or bends in certain areas? If so, it’s time for a roof inspection!

Roof Repair or Full-Scale Roof Installation?

When your home needs roof repair, how do you decide on investing in those fixes versus a full-scale roof replacement? Your roofing contractor is an excellent source of advice as he or she can note the overall condition of that roof, including damage to its decking and other major structural materials. If a home’s roof needs new decking or has suffered severe water damage, replacing some shingles is often insufficient!

A homeowner might also consider the roof’s age when deciding between repairs and full-scale reroofing. Investing in hundreds of dollars of new shingles now for an older roof that will need replacing in a few years anyway might not be the best long-term investment! A new roof also won’t need repairs for several years, so you can choose a full-scale reroofing and typically not need to worry about roof repair costs for seven to ten years, if not longer.

A homeowner might also note if they will be facing roof repair costs repeatedly over the next few years. Worn shingles in one area of a roof might indicate excessive wear and tear so that you’ll need to replace shingles along other roofing sections soon enough. Rather than facing those repeated costs and risking interior water damage in the meantime, consider a full-scale roof replacement instead.

Since a new roof means less risk of interior water leaks and resultant damage and mold, consider a full-scale reroofing for, as an example, aging parents. As your parents get older, you don’t want them to be concerned over a damaged roof or be affected by a drafty interior, water damaged ceilings, mold, and the like. A new roof ensures their home is in good condition and stays that way for many years to come!

A home’s roof also affects its overall value. An old and worn-out roof might reduce your home’s value, even after needed repairs, while investing in a new roof can mean increasing that value. If you might put your home on the market in a few years, consider a new roof now, so that it’s still in good condition when it’s time to sell. This also ensures you avoid interior water damage and other issues that might decrease your home’s value and overall salability.

What Is the Best Residential Roofing Material?

If your home’s roof does need repairs or replacement, you have more options for roofing materials than you might realize! Standard asphalt shingles are durable and affordable, making them a favorite choice for homeowners, but they also tend to have a short lifespan, often lasting no more than 7 to 20 years before they need replacing.

Metal roofing is quickly becoming a favorite option for homeowners, as metal is tough and durable as well as lightweight, so you can often install it over an existing roof. Metal also provides a watertight seal over a home’s roof, making it an excellent choice for tropical areas or those prone to storms and rainy weather.

To add style to your home, consider clay tiles. Clay tiles have a Mediterranean feeling to them, offering a natural look and feel that many homeowners prefer over asphalt and other manmade materials. Slate tiles are also very attractive and durable but heavier than many other choices, so they may not be usable for older homes with weakened frames and local building codes might not permit their installation over an existing roof.

Related Questions

How much should roof repair cost?

Only a roofing contractor near you can note your expected roof repair costs; those costs will depend on the type of damage your home’s roof has suffered, number of missing shingles, and if you’ll need interior water damage repair as well as roof repair. Most homeowners might expect to pay anywhere from $700 to $2000 for roof repairs.

Can you perform DIY roof repairs?

A roofing contractor ensures their safety when on a roof and also knows local building codes covering roof repairs and replacement. He or she also knows how to inspect hidden areas and all roofing materials properly, such as eaves and nooks, flashing, underlayment, decking, and the like. To ensure high-quality roof repairs that last, avoid DIY work and invest in a qualified roofing contractor instead.