Winter is over – temperatures are rising, trees are already covered with leaves, and all of nature is alive. Although the weather is definitely more optimistic than it was just a few months ago, spring is also a time when a lot of bad things can happen. For many years now, we have observed that it is in March, April and May that we most often come to our customers with interventions for roofing problems occurring after heavy rainfall and temperature changes. Let’s find out what the most common roofing problems are and how to detect them.
1. Roof Leaks
Leaks are one of the most serious roofing problems, as they can lead to damage of a very wide range. What’s more, you need to react to them extremely quickly, because otherwise, your home will require extremely expensive repairs.
Roof leaks are most often caused by 4 causes:
- Ice dams on the roof edge and inside the gutters – due to wear and tear on the thermal insulation, your roof may have a tendency to form ice dams on its edges and in the gutters. This phenomenon involves the gradual melting and refreezing of snow, which can cause gaps to widen and micro cracks to form.
- Clogged gutters – although at first glance, clogged gutters should not count as roofing problems, in fact, the accumulation of leaves and other debris can prevent the transport of water in the gutters, which in extreme cases can lead to water overflowing onto the roof.
- Flashing damages – as we wrote in our blog, flashings have a sealing function. By force of nature, their damage will therefore result in serious roofing problems, which certainly include leaking.
- Impact damages – sometimes winter storms lead to snapping branches that may fall on the roof. While smaller objects will not cause any damage, heavy pieces of wood can even make visible holes.
We suggest that you enlist the help of professionals when detecting any roofing problems, but this is especially important if you have detected leaks. A poorly executed repair may give you a false sense of security and a remedy to the problem, but in practice, usually, the scale of the damage will only increase. The only way that gives you 100% certainty is a professionally conducted repair combined with replacement of damaged roof components.
2. Missing Tiles, Shakes Or Shingles
Under the influence of strong winds, the passage of time and low temperatures, shingles, shakes or tiles can begin to fall off your roof. This is one of the most common roofing problems if we look primarily at older homes, but such failure can occur after just a few years of improper roof use. You will protect yourself from such situations by ordering roof maintenance services Glenview.
While missing shingles are only a threat to your home’s interior due to the possibility of water leaks, falling cedar shake or slate tiles can pose a real danger to people. A piece of wood weighing several kilograms can even kill a person, and it is common for several of them to fall from a roof at once due to localized weakening of the structure of a given slope.
Missing pieces of rooftop are also a major threat to the layers below. We are mainly referring to the underlayment and sheathing, which can suffer mechanical damage due to protruding nails and sharp edges of shakes and tiles.
Detecting this defect will not be a problem – you will probably find missing shingles on your lawn, and the roof will not look normal at first glance. In such a situation, be sure to contact the specialists at A.B. Edward – within a few days we will solve your problem and repair your roof.
3. Gutter Clogs
Leaks aren’t the only roofing problems that can arise from clogged gutters in your home. In extreme cases, however, they can be torn out of their abutments – this happens when the amount of sediment is so high that the supports can no longer withstand the load. In such situations, damage to the roof, siding and the gutters themselves is, of course, possible.
Of course, there is still a high risk of leaks, which we have already written about in point number 1. Any clogging of the gutter should be removed as soon as possible. If your house is low, you can try to take care of this yourself, or you can enlist the help of the professionals at A.B. Edward Enterprises to help you.
4. Ventilation Problems
A properly constructed ventilation system is extremely important – it protects your home from mold growth, improves sleeping comfort, removes unpleasant odors and reduces heating costs. After a few years, however, you may find that even a properly constructed system will fail. This can happen due to dirt buildup, perforated ductwork or damage to fans, if installed.
Detecting ventilation problems is sometimes not easy, but in the case of more serious damage, this should not be a problem. Typical symptoms are an increase in temperature in the attic, condensation on the windows and lower parts of the walls, the development of mold on the ceilings and in the attic, and the slow discharge of unpleasant odors. If you have doubts about the efficiency of the ventilation systems in your home, contact us – we have the necessary equipment to detect faults.
5. Moss and Algae Growth
Spring is the time when all plants develop. Unfortunately, but your roof is no exception to this, and it is in April and May that you may find that your shingles begin to grow algae or moss.
The development of moss and algae is, of course, due to rising temperatures, still high humidity and plenty of light. While algae is not too threatening to the roof structure and only has an aesthetic impact, moss poses a serious threat, especially to cedar shakes. Each plant accumulates moisture in its roots and impedes ventilation, and that’s a short way to roofing problems.
Removing moss and algae is not difficult – just use a brush with not too hard bristles and a detergent, which can even be dishwashing liquid. Equipped with such equipment, you can get on the roof and start removing the plants. Remember, however, that moving at great heights can end in injury and even death. This is the reason why you should again consider contacting professional roofers.
If moss growth is a recurring problem, think about pruning the branches growing near your home. This is because there is a very good chance that it is the shade they create that creates the perfect conditions for the growth of these plants.
Any Roofing Problems To Solve? Choose A.B. Edward
As an exterior contractor with more than 20 years of experience, we are well aware that roofing problems should not be underestimated. Any leak, even the smallest one, can cause the interior of your home to be flooded and valuable items inside to be irreparably damaged. Fortunately, we employ a team of specialists who will take care of the damage and protect your home in no time.
We know roofing problems removal like no one else in Chicagoland. Contact us for help today!
