Signs of Roof Damage

Exterior Roof Inspection

We do not recommend that you inspect your roof by walking across it. Rather, inspect if from the ground, using binoculars to help you see more clearly. Look for any of the following signs of roof damage:

1. Blistered, curled or split shingles.
2. Loose or missing shingles or tiles.
3. Broken or loose shingles at the ridge lines and hip lines.
4. Loose nails. A loose nail means an open hole, which can cause leaks and subsequent water damage to your roof.
5. Exposed nails. These also can lead to leaks in your roof as the water seeps around the head of the exposed nails.
6. Dark patches on asphalt shingles and/or large amounts of granules in the rain gutters. This could mean that the granular coating of your roof is wearing away and needs to be replaced.
7. On a slate roof, dark patches could indicate mold, but are often just discolored places from trees dripping repeatedly on the slates. If you see dark patches, be sure to check the interior for dark or discolored drywall or other evidence of a leak before calling an inspector or contractor.
8. Sagging either on the ridges or in the slope of the roof.
9. Rusty or corroded metal (flashing) and loose shingles in the valleys; also plumbing vents or areas near chimneys. You may need to remove leaves and other debris before a proper inspection can be done. Remember that a lot of leaf debris in the valleys, by plumbing vents, or near the chimney can cause problems with your roof if not dealt with promptly at the end of each season.
10. Rusty metal or loose shingles in locations where a vertical side of the house meets the roof
11. Overflowing gutters or excess water pooling near the foundation of the house.
12. On a flat roof, look for blisters in the coating. If you want to fix them yourself, pop the blisters with a knife and coat them with roofing cement to prevent further damage.
13. Depressions near a vent pipe on a flat roof is another sign to look for. Keep your eyes open for separations in the flashing, or clogged drains, as these are also signs of trouble

Interior Roof Inspection:

While inside your home, watch for warning signs that are early indicators of problems. Visible leaks are obvious problems, but also look for:

• Sagging decking between the rafters.
• Outside light that can be seen from the attic . If you have a shake roof, this may not be a problem as shakes will swell and seal during the wet months. On any other type of roof however, seeing the sky through your roof is not a good sign.
• Signs of leaking in the attic . This could include dark spots in the wood, especially around vents, chimneys, and other hole to the roof, or stained drywall/ceiling tiles if your attic is finished.
• If you find a dark spot on your wood , test it to determine if it is old or a new problem. If the spot is still wet, or if it is soft when you press a screwdriver to it, the spot is a current problem. If it is dry and hard, the problem has already been taken care of and you do not need to worry about it.
• Signs of water damage or leaking (usually in the form of water stains, or sagging ceilings)–this could be from either an active leak in the roof or to collected condensation caused by poor ventilation.

If any of the above signs are present in your roof, inside or out, you need either repairs or a new roof. It will be up to you to decide what is going to be best for you and your home, depending on the degree of damage. Sometimes it is less expensive to pay for a new roof than to deal with fixing the damage from an old, continuously patched roof. Whatever you decide, the time has come when you must contact contractors, review estimates, and learn what to expect during your roof project for a flat roof.

We are here and ready to help with your roofing needs in the Memphis area.  Request an estimate online!

There are a lot of roofing companies in the Memphis area. All you have to do to see that is do a Google Search search or look in the Yellow Pages. So how do you know who to choose? It can be very difficult and stressful but here are some tips to help you through:

First of all, check out our post about how to have a Positive Roofing Experience and then do what is listed. You will be so glad you check these things out in the end. If you just go with the first one you find, you may end up paying way too much money for an inferior job.

You can always count on Lucius Roofing to provide you with the highest quality roof with honesty and dependability. Contact us for a free estimate.