Common Reasons for Roof Repair (and How to Prevent Them)
The roof over our heads often goes under-appreciated and under-maintained; we take advantage of its strength even though it’s our principal protection again the elements. Unfortunately, home and business owners often experience the need for roof repairs which could have easily been prevented. Therefore, we are sharing with you the most common reasons for roof repair and how you can prevent them.
6 Common Reasons for Roof Repair
Gutter Becoming Clogged, Loose, or Misaligned
Surprising as it may be, gutter problems are one of the most common issues homeowners face, which often lead to water damage to the roof, siding, and foundation of the home as well as the landscaping. What causes gutters to become problematic is when they become clogged, loose, or the pitch isn’t centered correctly. To determine if your gutters are the problem, we recommend heading out into the rain, looking up, and seeing if you can identify where the concern originates.
Wear and Tear from the Elements
Our roofs are constantly exposed to the elements, protecting our home from the brutality of nature. Whether it is harsh UV rays, downpouring rain, freezing sleet and snow, or a fierce wind, eventually, our roofs will suffer from wear and tear. Shingles are frequently the roofing component that suffers the most from elemental exposure. Often the damage includes becoming torn, cracking, missing granules, or even just being missing. When shingles become damaged, the roofing underneath is exposed to the elements, which can lead to more significant issues.
Failing Flashing Exposing the Roof
Roof flashing is a thin material used to direct water away from vital sectors of the roof, wherever the roof plane meets a vertical surface, like a wall. Flashing is installed to surround roof features, such as vents, chimneys, and skylights. Its objective is to ensure water runs down the side of the flashing, to the shingles, and down to the gutters rather than into your roof. As with any material, flashing fails after a certain amount of time. Flashing will demonstrate its age by becoming warped, loose, cracked, or another form of damage. When flashing becomes damaged, it is likely to leak and lead to other problems.
Missing Kick-Out Flashing
Speaking of flashing, another common reason for roof repair is due to a missing kick-out flashing. Kick-out flashing is a small piece of bent metal that directs water away from a wall. Unfortunately, many homes don’t have this as a part of their roofing system, which can lead to severe rot since water is constantly splashing against the wall.
Damaged Roof Vents in Need of Replacement
Roof vents intake and exhaust air to aid your home’s circulation processes. Just like everything else, roof vents are not meant to last forever; they can crack, rust, leak, and experience other types of damage. The warning signs of a damaged roof vent include mold growth, air conditioner issues, pests invading the house, and hot and cold spots.
Water Damage Due to Leaks
As mentioned with the above issues, many minor concerns lead to leaks. Those leaks can then lead to massive structural damage to a building if not adequately addressed in a timely manner. Water damage can present itself in various ways, including ponding, roof leaks, mold growth, wood rot, rust, sagging, and other issues. Whatever it is, water damage of any kind can get expensive quickly, so it is best to nip it in the bud as fast as possible.
How to Prevent Roofing Damage
The first step to prevent roof damage from occurring is thoroughly cleaning out your gutters on a regular basis. Depending on your home and its surrounding environment, that could mean once a quarter or once a year. Whatever it is, make sure you do a good job or hire someone to do it for you.
Second, we recommend taking steps to ensure that your roofing system is in tip-top shape. To do this, you should hire a professional to perform an in-depth roof inspection. They will identify any problems that you may have and provide a list of recommendations. We suggest starting by replacing any elements that are damaged beyond repair, such as a roof vent, or adding missing features, like a kick-out flashing, that will improve the functionality of the roof.
Third, we advise that you address any water damage that may have occurred. Unfortunately, repairs will not last if there is water damage hiding underneath. Therefore, if you think you have water damage somewhere on your roof, in your attic, or anywhere else, have your roofer investigate the root cause and provide a solution.
Lastly, we suggest utilizing Roof Maxx® treatment to add years to the lifespan of your roof. Using oil beads to rehydrate your roof, this treatment restores flexibility so the shingle can contract and expand without breaking while also reactivating the seal tabs on the shingles, helping to extend the waterproofing protection. Essentially, this will provide greater protection against the elements, adding another five years to your roof per treatment, up to 3 treatments; that’s 15 years of extra life in your roof at a fraction of the cost of roof replacement.
Call Roof Maxx of the Tri-Cities
Does your roof need some TLC? Roof Maxx of the Tri-Cities is here to help you achieve a safer, healthier, longer-lasting roof over your head. Located in Kennewick, our roof treatments are an affordable alternative to a complicated, expensive, and life-disrupting asphalt roof replacement. We offer free roof inspections and fast, efficient roof treatments. Please give us a call today or complete our contact form to schedule your appointment.
