Serious roofing problems rarely occur at once. In many cases, what seems like sudden damage occurs after the property owner has ignored early warning signs. Below are some of the telltale signs that might mean your roof is headed for disaster.
Ceiling Discolorations
Ceiling discolorations usually appear if the water is leaking onto the ceiling. Most ceiling materials are sensitive to water, and even a little moisture might cause discoloration. However, it might take some time for the stains to appear on the underside of the ceiling because the water is leaking from above. Note that discoloration doesn't necessarily mean that the leak is directly above the discolored spot. Water leaks can flow for some time before dripping onto the ceiling, so a proper diagnosis is necessary.
Gutter Debris
Asphalt shingles have a protective layer of mineral granules on their surfaces. The granules protect the shingles from various threats, including weathering threats. However, accelerated weathering, wear and tear, or storm damage can dislodge some of the granules. The dislodged granules will slide down the roof or flow down with roof water and land in the gutters. Thus, you should suspect that your shingles are damaged and not as protective as they used to be if there are granules in your gutters.
Inefficient Heating and Cooling
You should also suspect roof damage if your house is experiencing hot and cold spots or taking too long to heat or cool. Another telltale sign is if you are spending more energy to heat or cool your house than you used to do. Such problems typically arise if a house's building insulation is not intact, which might be the case if the roof is leaking. In such a case, you are losing heated air to the outside, or the outside air is affecting your indoor temperature.
Rusty Flashing
Roofing contractors use pieces of metal (flashing) to seal roof joints or protect vulnerable parts of the roof. The flashing can corrode after some time since it is exposed to all kinds of weather elements. A little rust might not mean much. However, serious rust probably means that the flashing is not sound since rust weakens materials, and weakened materials are susceptible to cracking. Such flashing can easily allow water to seep into the roof.
Mold Infestation
Lastly, a mold infestation can also point to roof leaks. This is especially true if the mold is growing in the attic. This is because mold thrives in moist places. A moist attic usually points to a leaking roof and damaged insulation.
If you notice any of these issues, consider getting a roof inspection to determine what types of repairs are needed.
