Spotting roof damage on time saves your roof and a lot of money. Systematic and regular inspection is crucial in this case. There are several vulnerable points on your roof from which the roof rot starts. It is essential for a house owner to know about these points and what to look for.
1. Shingles
Shingles are the first things to be examined. Oldsmar, Florida can receive some extreme conditions that effect your rooftop. Continuous gales can slowly lift the shingles and finally blow them off the roof. Furthermore, old shingles are likely to curl or buckle in the hot Florida summer.
It is important to find the damages and replace the shingles immediately. Shingles have to be examined for any discoloration due to vegetation overgrowth or pooling. Pooling will cause algal growth and deterioration of shingles.
2. Roof-top structures
There are different structures on your roof. The chimneys, vents, plumbing points, skylights, etc. are structures that are fixed on the roof. The places on the roof that joins these structures should be covered tightly in order to prevent water and moisture from entering your roof. These places are called flashings and are often covered with metal sheets that are held in place with caulk. The valleys or the places where two parts of the roof meet are also covered by flashings. Any crack in the caulking or displacement of the metal sheets would let the water in, causing leaks.
3. Gutters
Summer showers in Oldsmar are likely to clog the gutters with debris. Overflowing gutters are great liabilities to your roof’s health. Water will enter the attic through the fascia and cause serious roof leaks over time.
4. Soffit and fascia
These are structures which are under the roof edge. This is a vulnerable part of your roof. Water can enter in case of an overflowing gutter or water can be blown in by strong winds. Any discoloration on these structures is the sign of roof leak and has to be examined thoroughly.
Signs of roof damage
The first sign of roof leak often appears on your ceilings and walls. It appears as a moist patch on the ceiling or a trickle of water along your walls. It is vital to detect the origin of the leak and immediately remedied.
If you fail to notice the initial tell-tale signs of a roof leak, over time it will make the ceiling sag or even fall in. If the leak has reached this stage, you can be sure that your roof is in grave danger. Conducting an attic inspection would reveal the extent of damage. If the damage is massive, you may have to seek professional help. The characteristic musty smell is the sign of a moist attic and often denotes mold and mildew growth. They are dangerous to the health of your family as well as the roof.
Causes of roof damage
1. Weather
Extreme weather conditions are the worst enemies of your roof and Oldsmar, Florida is notorious for extreme climatic conditions. Extreme heat will curl or buckle shingles.
2. Rain
Continuous rains will cause erosion of shingles and the granules will clog the gutters causing seepage into your attic. Pooling on the roof is another hazard.
3. Wind
Strong winds can blow off shingles. Apart from that, it will blow in leaves and debris from nearby vegetation. More serious damage can be caused by trees falling on the roof.
4. Hail
Hail can be extremely damaging to your roof, especially if it is a clay-tiled rooftop. Extensive breakage can occur in case of a severe hail storm. In such cases, immediate replacement of the tiles is in order so that water does have a chance to seep through the broken tiles causing damage to the roof sheathing decking.