Protecting your home is making it capable of shielding you and your family. First, you always have to keep your new roof in excellent condition. If you’re living in the humid subtropical areas of Austin, Texas, there might be slight seasonal changes that can adversely impact your roof’s condition.
Residential roofing should ideally last for several years without any problem, especially if roof installation is done right. Still, there are red flags saying you might need help from the roofing experts. To ensure you don’t get caught with a broken roof, here’s an article by Austin Roofing & Water Damage | WDR about eight signs that you need to schedule a roof repair soon.
1. Damaged shingles/ missing shingles
A roof shingle is a part that covers the overlapping sections of your new roof. Take a look at the shingles’ condition. Depending on the kind of roof your house has, it might be cracked or have missing tiles. Corrugated roof shingles may start warping or have curling edges. Dents are also something to look out for. If there’s no tear on the shingles, it’s probably still good. If they are in bad condition, they might require full-on roof replacement.
Shingles get damaged as they are exposed to harsh environmental elements. For example, once the paint wears off, the fluctuation between hot and cold temperatures could cause them to warp. This warpage also applies to entire standing seam metal roofs.
Similarly, dented shingles could be caused by hail damage, with ice from a powerful hail storm usually hitting these roof parts. This calls for a thorough roof inspection. Make sure to contact a licensed roofing company in Austin or nearby areas for any issues.
Related Article: How to Repair Roof Shingles Blown Off During A Storm
8 Signs That You Need a Roof Repair
— Austin Roofing & Water Damage | WDR (@WDRofAustin) July 13, 2023
Read the full blog in here: https://t.co/6vh8I2KHJa pic.twitter.com/iL5hIyOtuN
2. Algae Growth On Ceramic Or Metal Roofing
This is another sign you can see even without climbing on the roof. If you see dark spots, streaks, or patches of discoloration on your roof, that might be algae cultures proliferating.
Algae growth is usually caused by poor ventilation or constant exposure to moisture. Even worse, this could also be caused by clogged drainage that retains water. Other symptoms of algae growth might include blistering on the roof or paint peeling, which often occurs with corrugated roofs.
Austin roofers work on it by removing the cause, improving ventilation, or declogging the gutter system to ensure that the algae don’t regrow. You can also repaint the entire roof after cleaning it of growths.
3. Gutter Blockage
Your roof is designed to shield the house from rain and divert water through the gutter. With time and shoddy roofing work, tiles or shingles start to erode. This is particularly common among aging materials such as composite shingles or asphalt shingles. However, architectural shingles are usually more resilient to erosion.
A gutter blockage could also be caused by weather events chipping away at your tiles or shingles. Hail damage is a common cause of damaged roof materials, starting further decomposition and wear.
If you start finding coarse grains of sands on your gutter or down the waterspout, usually of the same color as your roof, then it’s a sign of impending roof repair work.
Once you start finding tile or shingle granules in your gutter, start checking your roof or tap your local roofers for help. They might’ve run their course and are now due for a roof replacement.
4. Light Streams
Whenever you’re at the ceiling or the attic, check if there are streams of light passing through. Wherever light passes, remember that water can, too. This is one telltale sign that you need to know before calling for roofing services in Austin. Even a slight ray of light is a cause of concern.
Depending on the case, it can be solved by replacing the shingles, or worse, the plywood underneath. It needs a roofing contractor to ensure the problem is addressed at the roots.
5. Sagging Spots? Call Your Roofing Company Immediately.
Aside from light, water is an invasive material that tells you it’s time to get your roof checked. It might be that a part of your roof has started sagging, or you’re seeing a section that’s noticeably lower than the rest. It’s most likely an indicator that the wood pillar or board underneath the roof has begun to rot due to constant water exposure. It might be caused by improper roof installation.
You can start by looking for sagging sections of the roof, trace its lowest point, and go up. If you see a bend or sag in the roof boards, make sure to contact your trusted professional roofing tradesperson for roof repairs in Austin, TX.
Remember that leaving your roof unattended is dangerous. Wood that has weakened due to constant moisture could cause sections of your roof to collapse. Usually, problems at this point would require roof replacement.
6. Watermarks On Walls And Ceilings
Water doesn’t constantly drip from roofing systems through the ceiling if it is raining hard. More often than not, it crawls through beams and walls.
In this case, the leak starts leaving watermarks and stains. In some cases, water even starts accumulating inside the wall and creates water pockets that sag and bulge as water accumulates.
Not only does it indicate a leak in your roof, but it is also a sign of something more serious. As the water reaches your ceilings and walls, it might’ve started compromising the roof underlayment. This is the extra protection usually found beneath the roofing material. Letting this go on could affect other house parts, weakening wooden structures and waiting for electrical circuits to go haywire.
7. Detached Chimney And Flashing
In roofing systems lingo, flashing refers to thin metal sheets used to cover possible waterways that could get into your walls, roof valleys, and chimneys. An issue with this part of the roof could cause water to be in places where it shouldn’t be. This is something that requires immediate attention.
Flashing problems could also cause watermarks on your walls and ceilings. For your chimney, if you see pools of water accumulating at the base or see water dripping from its walls, call a roofer immediately.
When left unchecked, water could lead to bricks spalling or cracking. Not only does it cause watermarks, but it could also compromise the structural integrity of your chimney. All of this is from a potential leak from your roof, one that requires immediate roof repair services in the Austin area.
8. Increased Energy Bills
This is one of those indirect effects of having a damaged roof. Most of the signs listed above are from external factors like light and water coming into your house. Where things come in, other things also come out, especially cold or warm air from air conditioning or heating systems. By leaking outward, your HVAC system is forced to continue providing temperature-controlled air and not reach the target temperature.
If you think you maintain pretty regular energy use in your house, then a sudden spike in your utility bills could be a telltale sign. Addressing this issue in your roof or your attic should also reflect through lower bills.
More About Roofing In Austin
A roofing company usually allows clients to choose between different shapes and sizes, often in response to certain factors such as the house’s direction or the usual weather patterns in the area. The same goes for roofing houses and buildings in Austin in Central Texas.
Austin roofing materials
You could find roofing materials that are made of wood, asphalt, ceramic tiles, or even corrugated metal sheets. Each of these materials has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, tile roofing erodes or deteriorates over time, with their components being washed away. On the other hand, metal roofs could start warping or bending as they are exposed to the elements. Additionally, each material for residential and commercial properties has its lifespan:
- Asphalt 3 tab shingles and wood shingles usually last for 20 years.
- Asphalt architectural shingles last from 30 to 50 years, depending on location and roof installation strategies.
- Metal roofs can last anywhere from 40 to 80 years. An insurance company generally looks favorably at buildings with these materials because of their resiliency and cost.
- Traditional solutions like slate shingles, concrete tiles, and clay materials can last from 60 to 150 years. Although they are more expensive, a roofing company would most likely recommend them.
These are only material projections, primarily affected by many other factors, such as the roof maintenance procedures and the installed environment. This is why for newly-installed Austin roofing items, you might want to check with roofing specialists serving Austin to ensure that the material you use will suit your needs.
Roof replacement parts for residential and commercial properties
There are basic needs roofing experts will include more than the tiles, sheets, and shingles. From new roof installation to roof inspections down the line, here are six essential parts that usually cover all your roofing needs.
Strip shingles
It serves as the base of any roofing job. Usually, a roofing company installs them with a tar adhesive to keep them in place, prevent them from getting blown off, and avoid moisture from coming in.
Flashing materials
Usually made from metal, flashing prevents water from accumulating by redirecting them elsewhere, usually down the gutter.
Underlayment
It is a protective layer underneath the tiles or the roofing itself. You might find a full-service roofing contractor installing a sheet of asphalt, rubber, or felt-like material during construction.
Roofing material
This refers to the tiles or corrugated metal sheets that you see on the exterior of your home.
Ventilation
This section keeps continuous airflow going in and out of the attic or the ceiling. This prevents the accumulation of overheated air or moisture, which protects the support beams, underlayment, and even the roofing material.
Roof hip, ridges, and valleys
These are parts that are concerned with the corner connections of your roof. These are the diagonal joints where roof slopes meet.
Find Residential Roofing Services Today
Roof damage is often inevitable. This is particularly true with normal wear and tear. However, you have to act upon it as soon as you start seeing any of the eight telltale signs enumerated above. Complacency in dealing with your residential or commercial roofing systems would only lead to more significant problems — untoward events that would require more time and money to fix.
Austin residents primarily include regular maintenance on their checklists. Especially after a severe weather event, it is prudent to look for free estimates regarding storm damage restoration services on top of the standard restoration efforts.
By being proactive in your home care practices, you can continue providing a safe and comfortable home for your family and even improve the property’s value. As soon as you find something wrong with your roof, contact roofing contractors in Austin, TX today and get a free estimate.
