Avoid Further Roof Damage with Early Detection

#1 Mold
When you have a leaky roof, mold can infest many parts of your home. When water spreads to different parts of your house, it carries with it the potential to spread mold. Mold causes damage to your home by weakening building materials, like wood and insulation. Mold thrives in the dark, warm, wet environments. When these factors are present, mold can spread quickly without you noticing.
Don't let a roof leak rain on your parade. Discover the 10 signs in our latest blog. #RoofLeak #HomeMaintenance
— Austin Roofing & Water Damage | WDR (@WDRofAustin) July 14, 2023
Read the full blog here: https://t.co/wFTtnXIPte pic.twitter.com/ABmPk804Gk
#2 Flashing Damage
Flashing is essential to reducing the effects water has on the exterior parts of your home. Most of the corners and joints in your roof – like around the chimney – should be protected by flashing. Step flashing is used where the walls of your house intersect the roof. Wherever there is flashing on your roof, there is potential for a weak point. When step flashing becomes weak or is damaged, it can be the cause of a leak in your roof. If you don’t have kick-flashing, water runs off of your roof and down your exterior walls. Depending on the integrity of your exterior wall, water could be leaking into the wall itself. If there is a door or window present where the water flows down from the roof, water can seep beneath the trim. If this isn’t taken care of promptly, rot can spread to the sheathing and framing of your home. Regular inspection of the flashing on your home can reveal cracks, splits, or loose pieces of flashing. Careful checking could also reveal spots of rust in the flashing. It’s a good idea to have the flashing on your roof checked seasonally to ensure you catch any potential damage before a leak can wreak havoc on your home.#3 Stains

#4 Shiners
If you don’t notice any water flow marks or if the ceiling stain in your home is fairly small, look at the underside of the roof for ‘shiners.’ A shiner is a nail that missed the framing member. Moisture that escapes into your attic from the rooms below often condenses on metal nails. Sometimes you can spot this if you climb up into your attic on a cold night. The nails will look white because they’re frosted. When the attic heats up a bit during the day, the frost melts and drips, then the nails frost up at night again, and so on.#5 Distorted, Lost, or Damaged Shingles
A sure sign that you have a roof leak is distorted-looking roof shingles. If you notice shingles that are visibly warped or twisted, you’ve found a spot where water is possibly entering your home. When water enters at a point like this on your roof, it can travel throughout your home before it shows any visible leak signs anywhere else .
#6 Damp External Walls
If you see mold or moss growing on your external walls, this may indicate a continuous water leak. Physically touch the wall where growth may be present. If you feel dampness, it may be the first indication you have that there is a leak present. A damp external wall can lead to water issues inside the wall. One of our experienced technicians will check above the wall for blocked gutters, downpipes, or other problems that may be causing the dampness on your wall.#7 Gutter Issues
Leaking Gutters
If you see water dripping out of a portion of your gutters, there is likely a leak present. A dripping gutter is a clear sign that your gutters aren’t functioning properly. The purpose of a gutter is to move the rainwater away from the roof and walls of your home. When a drip is present, water isn’t being fully removed from the areas of your home, it could potentially damage. Leaking gutters allow rainwater to leak into the structure of your home, where it can cause damage long after the rain has passed by.Blocked Gutters
Your gutters may become blocked with plant matter – like pine needles, pinecones, leaves, etc. If your gutters aren’t routinely cleaned, they will become blocked. Blocked gutters overflow, causing drips. When we inspect your gutters, we may find roofing material. If the roofing material is present in your gutter system, it’s indicative that you have damage somewhere on your roof that could be contributing to a leak.Rusted Gutters
If not maintained, rust can build up on your gutters. Gutter leaks can start at rusty spots or at seams that have separated because of expansion and contraction. Our roofing professionals will inspect your gutter system for rust spots and separated seams.
Missing Gutter Apron
When water flows off the edge of your roof, some of it clings to the underside of the shingles and dribbles toward the structure of your home. If you have gutters but no gutter apron to stop the water, it will wick behind the gutter. Eventually, this will cause a rot problem. You may see water stains below the gutter on the fascia and soffit. This is a sure sign that you’re missing a gutter apron.#8 Holes Left in Your Roof from Previous Installations
You may have tiny holes in your roof that you don’t even know about. These tiny holes are left over from items previously attached to your roof. Things like satellite dishes, antennas, and mounting brackets are all drilled into your roof. When those items are removed, small holes are left where the screws were. These tiny holes can slowly leak water into your home. We’ll thoroughly check for these holes and other holes that may be present in your roofing.#9 Damaged Plumbing Vent Boots
Plumbing vent boots can be all plastic, plastic, and metal, or two-piece metal units. We’ll check the plastic bases for cracks and the metal bases for broken seams. Our technician will also examine the rubber boot surrounding the pipe. The rubber can be rotted away or torn, allowing water to seep into your home.#10 Dirty, Clogged Soffits
Attic ventilation is critical to the health of your house. Soffit vents inhale outside air which is necessary to create airflow that moves warm attic air out of the roof vents. Once the air enters the soffit, it moves through an air chute or some other opening along the underside of the roof into the attic. Clear soffits help to prevent moisture buildup and ultimately mold growth on your roof’s framing. Even the roof vents themselves may have cracked housing or broken seams. During a professional inspection, our conscientious technicians will examine your soffits and check for any damage.