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The roof is one of the home’s most important features and serves a pivotal role in protecting property. Despite this fact, roofs are often chronically overlooked in terms of maintenance, upkeep, and repair. In fact, oftentimes, home and business owners will neglect taking steps to maintain a roof, until it starts showing obvious, and undeniable signs of damage and erosion. Even then, homeowners will often question just how bad the damage is, because they wish to curtail the costs of major roof repair or, in some cases, attempt a DIY type of fix.
Nevertheless, it is important to be diligent when it comes to maintaining and upkeeping your roof. This is because roofs serve as the primary line of defense against the elements and the outdoors. Moreover, it is only natural that roofs will accumulate damage over time, even those that are installed by experts using high-grade materials. Sometimes all it takes is one bad storm or one downed tree, and suddenly your roof has major structural trauma.
Ultimately, roofs can succumb to all types of damage, however, one of the most common and pervasive issues that roofs face, are leaks. Leaky roofs are more than just an eyesore, as even the smallest of leaks can translate into big-time consequences for your roof and your home at large. In this post, we’ll outline everything that you need to know about leaky roofs and the repair process, starting from what you should do when you first encounter a leak, to aftercare measures you should take post-repair.
Common Signs that Indicate a Leak is Present
A lot of people believe that if a roof has a leak, it will be easy to detect. While there is some truth to this belief, it’s important to understand that some leaks aren’t easily identifiable. In some circumstances, you’ll find yourself seeing symptoms of the leak, rather than the actual leak itself. Here are some symptoms that indicate you likely have a hidden roof leak:
- Stains or discoloration on ceilings or walls.
- Bubbling or peeling of paint and wallpaper.
- Presence of mold or mildew (often indicated by smell).
- Warped or sagging ceilings, floors, or woodwork.
- Increased humidity in certain rooms, or a notable dampness in the attic/other rooms.
- Higher energy bills due to reduced insulation efficiency.
- Shingles that appear cracked or curled.
- Missing shingles or tiles.
- Damaged or deteriorated vents, skylights, and/or chimneys.
- Holes or punctures that occur from animals, debris, or hail.
- Excess moisture or condensation, particularly in the attic.
As a rule of thumb, if one or more of these symptoms are present, there is a good chance that you have a leak in your roof. While it can be tempting to try and go looking the source of the leak, keep in mind that roof leaks will often cause surrounding structural damage, leaving areas of the roof severely weakened, warped, and objectively dangerous to walk on or by. Therefore, unless you have prior experience repairing roofs, it’s best to enlist the help of a professional, as they know what precautions to take to ensure the safety of themselves and the home.
Furthermore, it’s also advisable to take steps towards repairing a roof leak as soon as possible. While smaller leaks and barely visible damage might not seem like an emergency issue, keep in mind that the longer you wait to call a professional in for repairs, the more likely the damage will spread, and the cost of repair will increase exponentially. Leaky roofs may seem like an inherently cosmetic issue, but if left untreated they can pose serious threats to your home and health.
Untreated Leaks and the Threats They Pose
Potential threats and dangers will depend on the size and severity of the leak. However, it’s important to remember that even the most inconspicuous of leaks can lead to major structural trauma. Here are some of the potential dangers you might face if you don’t expeditiously repair your leaky roof.
- Structural damage affecting the roof deck, rafters, beams, and walls.
- Potential electrical hazards stemming from short circuits, sparks, or fires.
- Health risks caused by mold, mildew, bacteria, or fungi.
- Pest infestations from rodents, insects, or birds.
- Damage to furniture, appliances, carpets, floors, and other belongings.
- Reduced property value and curb appeal.
For the above-mentioned reasons, it is best to address any leaky roof issues as soon as possible, even if you’re not completely sure that the roof is the culprit behind the present symptoms.
You can also take preventive measures and precautions such as having routine maintenance and inspections performed regularly. While annual checkups will suffice in most cases, be sure to check up on your roof following extenuating circumstances like storms or particularly rough seasons.
Roof Repair: Getting Started and The Process Thereafter
Fortunately, if your roof is leaking there are options available that will help restore it back to prime health. Like the damage itself, the repairs will vary depending on the severity of the leak. You may also find that you have to outsource help from other professionals if the leaky roof in question has damaged other parts of the house like flooring and appliances.
Depending on the damage caused by the leak, and how large and pervasive the leak is, you might be looking at simple repairs, or, in extreme scenarios, new installations. Generally speaking, however, you likely will not have to replace an entire roof just because of one leak. Nevertheless, leaks are pervasive and progressive and should be closely monitored.
Given all of the risks that accompany roof leaks, it’s important to enlist a team of professionals like those at LA Roofing. While it can be tempting to try and fix things yourself or opt for a company that promises pricing that’s objectively too good to be true, your roof is an investment and should be treated as such.
The best thing that you can do post-repair is simply to keep up with the maintenance and routine inspection of your roof. As always, prevention is preferable to repairs in almost every circumstance. Investing a bit of money into your roof today will potentially save you large sums of money down the line.
If you have any other questions about roof leak repair service in Connecticut, be sure to contact LA Roofing, your trusted Connecticut local roofing contractor. Your reputable Connecticut Roofing Company will be happy to assist you and answer any questions you may have. So don’t wait – take action today to protect your home and increase the longevity of your roof.
