Three Common Roofing Problems

Your roof is perhaps the most important part of your home. It takes the brunt of Mother Nature and protects everything below it, from the structure of your home to you and your family. Proper maintenance and detailed inspections are crucial for the continuing long life of your roof. Investing in a professional roofer in Peachtree City can help catch small problems before they progress into more costly complications. Of course, safety should always be a priority. That’s why we don’t recommend doing your own inspection or fixing your own roof. Walking on your roof can be dangerous, for you and for your roof. But if you let the professionals take care of your roof, you should be able to prevent roofing problems before they occur. Here are three of the most common problems we see.

1. Leaks and Moisture

Leaks are the number one reason homeowners call a roofer. A leak in your ceiling, attic, or crawl space is clear proof of damage to your roof. But by the time you can see water leaking through your ceiling, the damage is extensive. A leak points to damage that has probably been developing over weeks or even months. So if you can catch smaller problems, you have plenty of time to detect potential leaks before they occur.

The damage that leads to a leak can come from one of two sources. Usually, wear and tear on your roof or damage as a result of weather and debris is to blame. But leaks can also result from improper installation or maintenance of your roof. The damage from wear and tear can be unavoidable. Almost all roofs will sustain some damage over their lifetimes. The key is to catch the damage early on before it spreads and worsens. But we have also seen the results of untrained or incompetent roofers.

Roofing Problems from Poor Workmanship

Damage from poor workmanship is completely preventable. There is no excuse for damage caused by a roofer. That’s why it’s important to only use experienced roofers with a track record of quality work, like Eagle Watch Roofing.

One area where we sometimes see the results of poor workmanship is flashing. Flashing details that are not secure often allow rainwater to enter and create damage. If it is installed incorrectly, flashing can pull away from the roof, leaving cracks and other openings for water to get in.

Another problem area we often see is improperly installed moisture barriers. Moisture barriers, such as underlayment, are a critical part of your roof’s defense against water. Poorly installed underlayment provides a perfect avenue for water to seep in and produce blisters under the material.

Inadequate use of adhesives and a poor lamination job encourages more roofing problems. Shingles work together to protect your roof. Each shingle protects the one below it and relies on the protection of the one above it. Asphalt shingles have an adhesive backing that bonds them to the shingle below. If the shingles aren’t installed correctly, the adhesive may not set, and you can get leaks between shingles.

2. Loose Materials and Blow-Offs

Your roof only works to protect your home when it is in good condition. If pieces of your roof have become damaged or blow off, your roof can’t do its job. Fragments of your roofing materials that become dislodged and airborne during storms need immediate attention to avoid severe roofing problems. Open seams that occur from improperly attached flashing are no match for windy days. Roofing processes that use cold adhesives require time to cure properly. The most common types of asphalt shingle require a few warm, dry days for the adhesive to set. Moisture that enters into these areas infiltrates and weakens the materials, allowing a strong wind to lift up sections of the roofing and remove it.

3. Punctures and Scrapes

Punctures and scrapes are some of the worst roofing problems you can sustain. A puncture is, of course, a big problem. Literal holes in your roof let in winds, rain, and other weather than can damage everything underneath. But scrapes are just as bad. When the protective granules are scraped off an asphalt shingles, the asphalt is exposed to the sun. Ultraviolet rays from the sun can quickly degrade the unprotected asphalt, eating away at your shingles.

Punctures and scrapes are almost always the results of heavy objects hitting your roof. For instance, your roof may be hit with a large tree branch or other large debris during a storm. If a tree grows too close to your roof, even if the branches don’t break, they can scrape against your roof in a strong wind and cause severe damage.

The other source of punctures and scrapes is foot traffic and construction accidents. That’s why you should spend as little time as possible walking on your roof, and only allow experienced roofers to work on it. Anything from heavy footsteps to dropped tools and incorrectly placed fasteners can leave your roof in disrepair. So don’t let just anyone on your roof. Call Eagle Watch, your experienced Newnan roofers.

Fewer Roofing Problems

Now that you know more about your roof and how to maintain it, you can look forward to fewer roofing problems and expensive repairs. If your roof has any of the serious concerns we noted above, don’t wait. Investing in a professional roofer like Eagle Watch Roofing helps to ensure that you get to enjoy a problem-free roof installed by trained experts. Call us today for a free quote. You deserve it.