Most roof-related issues don’t begin as emergencies. They start with small things like damp in the loft, a slipped tile, or gutters that overflow during heavy rain. When ignored, these minor issues create the situation where you call for emergency repairs on a Sunday night as water comes through the ceiling.
Nipping these issues in the bud can save you money on big repairs. It can even keep you from having to replace your entire roof.
Water stains
One of the most obvious answers to questions regarding your roof is the condition of your ceiling. Stains in your ceiling can indicate issues with your roof. Big leaks are not the only thing that can show stains in your ceiling. They can also be the result of one tile traveling water along a rafter before ending up as a drip in a completely different room. The stain can even be a big distance away from the actual leak.
Seeing a ceiling with a stain in it should be motivating enough to find the source of your roof’s problem. It is much more easy and cheap to fix a simple leak than it is to repair the damage caused by it.
Missing or slipped tiles
After a particularly windy night, it’s a good idea to check your roof. It is helpful to get a friend to check the roof to see if there are slipped or missing tiles. Slipped tiles or missing tiles make gaps in the roof and let water in. This is especially troublesome for older roof as the nails and supports get worn and weaken.
Missing one tile usually is not a huge issue, but it means more water can get in. It is also likely more tiles will be missing very soon.
Sagging areas
When a roof is not even and has dips, it usually means there is more going on than a surface level issue. It could mean there are water issues that have caused timber to rot. It could also mean that the original construction was not strong enough to support the load.
It is best to check a sagging roof as soon as possible since the longer it is ignored, the worse it will get and the more expensive it will be to repair.
Damaged or blocked guttering
Guttering is often ignored until it is not working. A gutter that overflowed will cause water to run down the house, which will stain the brickwork and cause a damp problem and in the worst cases, water will get to the foundations.
Over time, leaves, moss, and debris build up and must be cleared out. Gutters that sag, crack, or pull away from the fascia are signs a replacement is required instead of a simple cleaning.
Moss and algae growth
A little bit of moss on your roof isn’t the worst thing. It most likely will hold moisture in the tiles, and that moisture will find its way Under the tiles. Large growth of moss holds even more moisture and also will start growing algae, which is heavy for roofs to carry in addition to the old moss.
Removing moss must be done carefully. Tiles can be pressure washed, but if the pressure and intensity are too high, the tiles can be cracked and dislodged beyond repair.
Light coming through the loft
If street lights can be seen while you are in your loft, you most likely have a roof that is leaking. Although it may not be raining inside, it definitely will be. This is a great at home roof inspection since you don’t have to use a ladder to complete it.
Rising energy bills
A roof doesn’t just give away the need for a repair by showing obvious signs. A roof that has outlived its usefulness will lose heat, and insulation will cause the heating bill to go up. The roof and insulation may have failed.
These signs don’t indicate a full replacement of the roof is needed. Usually, a complete repair would resolve the issue. The problem with postponing is that an isolated loose tile or even a gutter that is starting to clog could lead to ruinous leaking that destroys the ceiling or even rot or structural damage.
Having a roof inspection done, especially after winter, prevents most of these problems from becoming costly in the long run. If you notice any of the signs that are described, it’s best to have the inspection done sooner.