A damaged roof can cost you a fortune to repair especially when the damage extends to most parts of the roof. But if you can spot the problem early enough, you could significantly minimize the damage and the repair bill. While some damages may be obvious, however, some are hardly recognizable. Here are three unexpected signs of roof damage you might not have noticed.
1. Water spots
Just because you can’t see puddles of water on your floor doesn’t mean your roof is not leaking. Water may not necessarily follow a straight path down. It could run along the plumbing pipes and roof panels, in which case you could see the damage on the roof without seeing the actual water. Can you see yellow spots or water stains on your ceiling? If yes, then your roof is definitely leaking.
Stains on your exterior walls are also not a good sign. It means your flashing is rusted or damaged. The flashing is responsible for directing water away from your exterior wall. If it becomes loose or compromised, water will run down your walls leading to stains. The stains usually darken and become larger whenever there is a storm.
Not all water leaks are caused by roof problems though. Some may occur as a result of plumbing problems. When your notice water stains for the first time, be sure to check the source of the leak first. However, every leak has the potential to cause extensive damage to your house regardless of its source. Fix each one of them as soon as possible to minimize damage and expenses.
2. Granules in the gutter
Naturally, your roof shingles will wither as time passes. The process is usually characterized by the loss of granules. Have you noticed the presence of colored granules while cleaning your gutter lately? They must have eroded away from your roof shingles. Although this is not unusual, excessive amounts of granules should raise eyebrows.
It might be difficult to determine what should be considered excessive, but the surest way to tell is by observing your shingles. If the granules have been eroded away completely leaving bare patches that expose the underlying black asphalt, it’s time to replace or repair the damaged shingles. If the damage is not specific to isolated shingles, you should consider replacing your entire roof.
In some cases, the granule loss can be attributed to normal weathering process. Depending on the age of your shingles, you should expect to see some form of granule loss at least. Various elements can accelerate granule erosion including heavy rains, hail storms and excessive heat. Such may weaken your old granules making them fall off and run down into the gutter system. If your roof is showing signs of distress, you should order a roof inspection to determine whether you need to replace it or not.
3. Health issues
Whenever your roof gets damaged leading to leakage, rain water usually sips in raising the moisture levels. And wherever there is excess moisture, there is almost always mold growth. The mold can develop beneath your shingles spreading into your home slowly. You may fail to notice the growth immediately, but the problem can manifest itself by affecting your family’s health.
Yes, mold can actually make you sick! And the worst thing is you don’t even have to see the actual mold for it to happen. Some people are allergic to mold. The allergic reaction can manifest itself through symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, runny nose and itchy eyes. If a family member has asthma, the mold can also trigger an asthma attack.
The craziness doesn’t stop there; mold can lead to a more serious condition referred to as Toxic Mold Syndrome. Symptoms of this condition go beyond a mere allergic reaction. The victim may experience dizziness, memory loss, anxiety and even intestinal problems. If one of your family members exhibits similar, unexplainable symptoms, the problem may have emanated from roof damage.
Spotting damages on your roof may not be as easy as expected. If a big chunk of your roof is blown away by strong winds, you may find that hard to miss. But it may be hard to spot eroded granules on the ground. If you suspect that your roof is damaged in any way, you can hire a roofing professional to confirm that it is performing as it should.