One of the best ways to identify a roof with some kind of moisture damage is to take a close look at how the roof looks from the outside. Moisture damage causes warping, bending, and sagging, which can help you pinpoint where the damage is and how serious it might be. Once you identify these problems, it's important to call a professional for repairs, especially if the roof looks like it's at risk of collapse.
Warping and Bending
Moisture damage can cause wood to bend, and when this happens cracks can spring up in your roof which allows more moisture inside. This can also weaken your entire roof structure, especially if this warping is accompanied by wet wood rot.
From the outside, you may notice it first in places like your eaves, which is usually where most of your roof's wood is exposed. If some parts of your eaves are starting to bend, or if they no longer look aligned with the rest of your roof, this is often a sign of moisture damage.
You may also notice that certain parts of your roof are higher or lower than the rest of the roof; they might look like bumps or dips. This can be difficult to spot unless the damage is serious, so take a ladder and look at your roof at its surface level to check if everything looks even.
Sagging or Leaning
In some serious cases, your roof as a whole may look like it's leaning to one side or that certain parts are sagging. This happens when the roof structure itself is weakening, and if left unfixed, can present a serious risk of collapse.
Look at your house from a short distance facing it directly to see if there's any sign of leaning or sagging. Sagging often occurs only in certain areas rather than the whole roof, so you can also use a ladder to take a closer look for any dips or curves. If you notice any leaning or sagging, avoid stepping or standing on the roof to avoid possible injury, and contact a roofing professional as soon as you can.
Damaged Roof Material
Damage to your roofing material itself can be easier to spot than sagging or bending, but if the damage is isolated and minor, you might not see it unless you're looking for it.
Check for any damaged or missing shingles, and take note of them even if the damage is minor or looks like wear and tear. Further, check for damaged flashing in areas around your chimney, plumbing vents, and valleys. These are often metal, and serve to prevent water from getting in through these areas. If the flashing is damaged, if it looks pulled away or bent, or if it's missing, this can quickly lead to leaks, especially in areas where water will pool up.
For more information, contact a roofing company like Burwell Construction inc.
When you have something you like inside a jar, you probably put a lid on it — right? In a way, you can think of your house in the same manner. You like and value the items inside, along with the inside of the house itself. So, it only makes sense that you would protect the interior of your home with a lid. That lid is your roof.
Keep that perspective in mind as you read this blog. Learning more about roofing will feel more interesting if you remember what a roof does: it protects the inside of the home and the people who live in it.