Serious damage to your roof won't always be easily visible. Damage caused by certain weather conditions, pests, and even plants may go unnoticed, but they can still pose many of the same risks as obvious damage. Here's what to look for and when to call for inspection and repairs.
Adverse Weather
Some weather-caused roof damage can be severe and easily noticeable, but other kinds can be much more subtle even if it's still serious. One example is hail damage. Hail strikes can cause sudden extreme granule loss in materials like asphalt shingles, but this might not be easily spotted if all your shingles are still in place. Granule loss can lead to leaks and cracking, and this can occur even when weather conditions are more temperate.
High winds can also cause damage to your fascias by pulling them slightly apart and opening them up to moisture damage. Windy weather can also cause shingles to flap and start to curl, which creates gaps that water can get into. Until these issues get serious they may not be easily noticeable, which is why it's a good idea to have your roof thoroughly inspected by a professional after a storm even if there aren't any obvious signs of trouble.
Nearby Trees and Plants
Plants and trees can cause trouble if they're too close to your roof as well, and there are several ways damage can start to occur. Even if branches aren't directly touching your roof, fallen branches or sap can quickly wear down your roofing material. If any branches are close enough, they can also scrape against your roof in windy or stormy weather, causing direct physical damage. Leaves and twigs that fall onto your roof and start to build up can hold in the moisture that would otherwise drip off, which makes leaks much more likely.
One of the best ways to keep this problem at bay is to keep plants and trees near your house properly trimmed. If you hear any scratching sounds during stormy weather or think your roof might have suffered some damage due to nearby plant life, call for an inspection to be safe.
Pests
Pests of all sorts can easily start to cause damage to your roof. Creatures like rats and mice can gnaw on shingles and flashing and insulation, and creatures like termites and ants can eat away at wood, making your roof weaker over time.
Many pests will make their way onto your roof if there's an easy path available, such as a nearby tree branch. Others can be drawn in by debris piles that haven't been cleaned up, as many insects like dark and damp environments.
Pest damage is just as likely to be on the outside of the roof as it is on the inside. Look for any signs of gnawing on shingles or near gutters and flashing on the outside, and on the inside, look for any signs of nesting, torn insulation, or any signs of frass, which are droppings made by termites and other wood-boring creatures; frass can look like small piles of sawdust, and will often be found in garages and near walls.
Pest damage can very quickly lead to weakening roof structures and water damage from leaks, so if you suspect any pest damage, contact a roofing service.
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.