When to Replace or Repair Your Roof, and Why?
Your roof is an essential component in the overall value and structural integrity of your home. And since your roof is the first defense against the elements, it’s inevitable that degradation will occur. Unmaintained and unmonitored roofing assemblies will eventually be subject to damages both predictable and unexpected. So it’s important to be mindful of the condition and future life-span of your roof. Unfortunately, your roof is not invincible. Long-term exposure to the elements and neglect of periodic maintenance will result in the eventual need for repairs or worse replacement to prevent imminent roof failure.
Here at Fortitude Roofing, we understand that an untrained eye may not be able to recognize the signs of a deteriorating roof. We are a team of experienced and certified roofing professionals trained to recognize defects and problems and administer their repairs or replacement. We offer free roof estimates and no sales pitches, just our honest opinion.
Note: Under no circumstances do we recommend or condone climbing onto your roof for inspection, it’s important to have a professional conduct a comprehensive inspection, to avoid potential injury.
6 Signs Your Roof is Deteriorating
Visible Damage; missing or loose shingles due to severe storms or extreme winds is an alarming sign of potential damage to your roof’s integrity. A roof with missing or loose shingles is going to be ineffective in draining water and preventing moisture from seeping into your roof deck, potentially causing critical damage.
2. Sagging Roof; a sagging roof could have several causes; your roof could be weak and failing; it could be improper installation, or supporting too much weight from moisture retention, snow, ice, etc. Whatever the case, roof sagging is a critical sign that your roof needs immediate replacement to prevent its imminent collapse.
Dark & Altering Color; dark areas usually appear on the exterior of a roof when the granules on your roof begin to degrade and fall off. This means your shingles have aged and should soon be replaced to prevent further damage. Dark patches could also signal algae or moss growth, which is a common result in our sub-tropical North Carolina climate. These growths should be removed as soon as possible.
Exposed & Loose Nail Heads; when the nails in your roof begin to loosen and fall out. The holes and spaces around the nails that remain are susceptible to water penetration and can lead to leaks in the roof. The damage this moisture causes can drastically reduce the life-span of your roof and warrant a replacement as soon as possible.
Exposed & Damaged Flashing; the flashing around vents, skylights, and chimneys seals the seams of the roof from rain and weather. Examine these points make sure there are no cracks or breaks, which could lead to leaks and eventually result in severe roof damage.
Interior Water Damage; if there is water penetrating and leaking into any part of your home. There is a high chance that the shingle underlayment is inadequate or flashing on your roof has deteriorated. Other signs are mold growth and mildew, which are signals your roof is poorly ventilated.
Don’t Panic
Just because you have a few damaged shingles or a bit of a leak, don’t automatically assume that you need a whole new roof. If your roof has been properly installed and is younger than 20 years old, it may get by with repairs rather than a full replacement. When in doubt, the professionals here at Fortitude are honest and happy to help homeowners with their questions. All of our inspections are done without obligation or cost, so if you feel your roof needs attention, please call us at (252) 515-1016.
Areas we service:
Morehead City NC - Emerald Isle NC - Atlantic Beach NC - Havelock NC - Beaufort NC - Newport NC - Swansboro NC - Jacksonville NC - New Bern NC - Havelock NC - Trentwoods NC - Peletier NC - Stella NC- Hubert NC - Richlands NC