Lekker Roofing
Lekker Roofing
Four Signs You Need Roof Repair
How do you know when you have a roof problem?
In this article we will list the 4 most common signs that you may need roof repair. Leaks eventually come for all of our homes. The purpose of this article is to help you identify it as early as possible to avoid more costly damage to your roof or home. So lets get started.
1. Water Stains
The picture below is a common example. The picture doesn't really do it justice, but it is pretty obvious when you are looking at it in person that there is water damage on the ceiling of this home. This particular stain occurred in a home that was only a few years old and became apparent after a heavy extended rain. The water was leaking in around a ceiling vent and dribbling vertically down a 2 x 4 from the inside roof to the ceiling floor. It took an extended rain to then leak enough to saturate through the 6 inches insulation to the sheet rock below. When enough water leaked to the sheet rock, it eventually saturated a portion of it, leaving this stain in the ceiling. This is probably the easiest way to spot a roof leak for someone that is unfamiliar with roofing.
Recommended Action
Call your roofer. If you are local and around the Denton area, we would love to help with your roof repair. We can come and assess where the leak is relative to the stains you see in your ceiling and get it fixed for you.
2. Pipe Boot Damage
The items is more difficult to spot for the average homeowner. Most homeowners are not typically on their roof often. Unless you are, you will not be able to spot this one. Pipe vents serve a few different important functions for your home. Some of their main purposes are to help regulate pressure in your plumbing system, and to remove any odors or gas that may need to be removed from the home. These pvc pipes extrude from the roof. They then are sometimes booted, meaning the pvc pipe is completely sheathed or covered over with a plastic or lead cover, or a type of boot flashing it put over the pipe to seal water dripping down the shingles or down the exposed pipe itself.
As you can see in the first picture below of a lead pipe boot cover, any seams in the pipe boot itself are layered under the shingles. That way, when water runs down the face of your roof the water runs over the shingles and over the boot without much possibility of leaking. Notice the bottom seam of the boot is not under the shingles, this is because water doesn't run uphill, so there is need to layer that under shingles, although it is typically caulked at that seam as well.
In the second picture below, the boot is covering the base of the pvc pipe and the rubber collar attached tightly to the pipe to keep water from running down the pipe into your attic.
In both types of pipe covers, leaks can occur from breaks or cracks in the boots. In the case of lead, they are pretty sturdy and malleable. The plastic boot covers can crack and break over time which can allow water to leak in. If you got on the roof you could detect this.
Recommended Action
If you happen to notice cracking or corrosion around your pipe vents, call your roofer. If you are local and around the Denton area, Lekker Roofing can help with your roof repair. We can come out and replace the pipe boot(s) on your roof and hopefully take care of any leaks before they become more of a problem.
3. Damage Shingles on your Roof
When you drive around your neighborhood it is typically pretty easy to spot roofs that have damaged shingles on their roof. This damage could occur from wear and tear and would be more prominent if you live in an older neighborhood. They could also occur due to high winds or hail damage. In the case of high winds, you can see large sections of shingles torn off by high winds, exposing the felt or decking underneath. This is a very obvious and critical issue that needs to be corrected quickly. If this happens you would want to call your roofing company quickly so they can do some temporary coverings. Then, if desired, you could file an insurance claim to have an adjuster come out and assess the damage. What you don't want to do is have the roofers permanently fix the damage prior to the adjuster's arrival. The adjuster can't assess damage that they can no longer see. However, if you have no intention of filing a claim with your insurance company, then having the roofing business do permanent repairs would be fine.
Hail damage can be a bit more difficult to spot from the ground, unless it is substantial damage. To make a golf analogy, when you are fortunate enough to hit a beautiful chip shot that lands on the green, it will typically create a divot on the green. Hail is somewhat similar, when large size hail strikes your roof from the skies, it hits with force and can create a divot that can knock off the protective granules of your shingles. If you are looking at the shingles, this will look like a bare spot in your shingles. This bare spot is now exposing your roof to possible water damage.
Recommended Action
If you happen to notice divots or apparent bare spots in your shingles, call your roofers. If you have recently experienced a storm and notice your neighbors getting new roofs put on, the chances are you need one as well. If a roof repair or roof replacement is needed we can help you navigate the insurance paperwork and all of the logistics that come with getting a roof fix or roof replacement done.
4. Mold or Rotted Wood
If you happen to notice mold or rotted wood along the walls that border your roof, you might have a leak problem. Any wood that butts up against the shingles areas of your roof should be flashed and sealed to not allow water that hits your roof to access those areas. If you observe either mold and rotted wood, the damage is already done to some extent and it is important to call your roofing company to have them come and assess the damage and make the appropriate repairs.
In the picture below, you can see what we call a sagging roof. This can occur for a few reasons, but one of them is due to water damage that has compromised the strength and integrity of your wood decking. This is easily observable from the ground and is something you should have checked out.
Recommended Action
If you see mold, rotted wood, or roof sagging, call your Denton Roof Company. Call Lekker Roofing and let us inspect the situation and recommend a course of action that will protect your roof and home from further damage. We can schedule your roof repair or roof replacement (if needed) and work with you and your insurance company to make sure they are providing you all of the credit they should to make your roof whole again.
Summary
There are several ways roof damage can occur. We have discussed some of the more common ways this damage occurs, ways you can spot it, and what your next steps should be to get it looked at and repaired. Whatever you do, don't wait long. Water damage is not going to just get better. The wood will continue to rot, mildew will continue to grow and spread, the integrity of your sheet rock will further deteriorate, and any stains will grow and spread. Lekker Roofing is ready and able to help. If you are looking for roofers near you and you live in the DFW area, give us a call.
