How to Spot a Roof Leak Before it Grows
The roof is one of the most important parts of your home’s exterior, protecting everything underneath from Connecticut weather. Unfortunately many homeowners don’t pay much attention to their roofing in Naugatuck until something is wrong—and sometimes this can be far too late for a simple fix. Check for these signs to find roof leaks early while you can still repair them.
Water Spots: Generally if you see water spots on the interior of your home (ceilings and walls), it could be a sign your roof is leaking. Sometimes it can be hard to pinpoint the exact source of the leak, which is why you should hire Naugatuck roofing contractors to come inspect it immediately.
Excessive Granules: The granules on your asphalt shingles are designed to protect shingles from UV rays, and over the lifespan of every roof they will start to come off. While a few granules here and there are nothing to worry about, if you see excessive accumulations of granules in gutters and on walkways around the house it is time to check your composition asphalt shingles for other damages. This is typical after a severe storm and a direct indication that you may have sustained damage. If the roof is relatively new, check with the manufactureror roofing contractor to find out if they are still under warranty. However, most warranties are only valid until a weather event occurs. Read your fine print from your contractor.
Cracked or Buckling Shingles: Direct sunlight on your shingles will wear them out over time, and in the hot summers of Texas this is an issue for many homes. As granules wash away the exposed shingles become brittle and start to crack or curl around the edges. Call a Naugatuck roofing contractor to help you figure out if a simple repair can fix it, or if you need a new roof.
Curled or Wavy Shingles: When the edges of your shingles begin to curl or become wavy, this can be a sign of poor ventilation and excess humidity in the attic, or a sign of old, worn out shingles. Hire a professional to help you figure out exactly what is wrong so you can fix it.
Loose or Missing Shingles: There are several causes for loose and missing shingles, but generally it’s from high winds, damaged sealant strips, debris, or small animals on the roof. Repair or replace these shingles right away to prevent further damage.
Rodent damage: There has been a huge increase in rodent penetration to homeowners attic spaces. This can happen through gaps in the structure, ventilation, facia and soffit coverings that have been penetrated. There could be many areas and these spaces need to be sealed and can cause water leaks as well. As in most of these cases, it can be a trial and error experience. Often times nests have been made and need to be vacant before they sealed. Most of these animals exit during the daylight hours. But sometimes we must return again some days following to remove the sealed up area so that the animals may escape safely.
Paying close attention to your roofing throughout the year, and inspecting it at least once or twice a year can help you spot damage early enough to get it repaired whenever possible, and preserve the life of your roof.
