Every homeowner knows the importance of having a sound, solid roof. Not only does it protect you and your family from the elements, but it also helps protect everything you have in your home. Regular maintenance is, therefore, necessary to keep it in good condition, improve your home’s curb appeal as well as avoid trouble in the future.
However, being constantly exposed to rain, snow and heat takes its toll on any roof and it eventually breaks down. This is where you have to decide whether you can get by on repairs or patching or whether replacing the entire roof would be a better idea.
Signs That Something Is Wrong With Your Roof
Since a large section of your roof is usually out of view, it can be hard to notice when issues arise. Sometimes you never notice them before they progress to become major problems. To ensure that you nip issues in the bud, it is important to periodically inspect your roof for these warning signs:
- Water spots and discoloration on your ceilings and walls.
- Shingle granules in the gutters and downspouts.
- Water damage in the attic.
- Patches of visible sunlight from inside the attic.
- Rotting wood in the fascia board or the exterior roof siding.
- Missing or cracked shingles.
- Moss, fungi, or algae growing on the roof.
If you notice any of these red flags, don’t ignore them as they will eventually worsen with time. Dealing with them early on helps avoid more serious problems and costly repairs later on.
When to Repair Your Roof
In some instances, all your roof needs is some simple repairs to restore its beauty and function. These repairs can help extend its lifespan and won’t burn a hole in your wallet. However, before deciding to carry out repairs on your roof, call in roofing professionals to conduct a roof inspection first. The roofing professional should be able to thoroughly check the condition of your roof and to determine whether the damage to your roof goes deeper to the decking or underlayment, in which case a simple repair is off the cards.
You can get away with repairing your roof it’s relatively young – not more than 5 years old- and if you had recently done a complete roof replacement. Additionally, a simple repair job may be all that’s needed if you’re dealing with a few missing, cracked, or broken shingles.
Keep in mind that the new shingles you use to repair the roof may not match the older ones, thanks to exposure to the elements.
When to Patch Your Roof
It may also be possible to fix roofing problems by patching over the problematic areas. Again, before making this decision, call a professional roofing contractor to assess the damage to your roof and to advise you accordingly. The roofing expert will check out both the exterior of the house as well as the attic boards for signs of damage, moisture leakage, and other issues before recommending a patching job.
Patching your roof requires more effort than doing simple repair jobs. You can patch over a damaged section if for instance a tree limb fell over your roof and damaged a few shingles or the wind blew a section of shingles away. It may also be possible to patch your roof if you notice that it leaks from one isolated spot or if the roofing area you’re dealing with is small and inconspicuous. Patching up these few bad spots can help hold things together until it’s time to replace the roof.
The one drawback to patching your roof is that the final effect may not be very aesthetically pleasing since the new roof section may not match the older one.
When to Replace Your Roof
No matter how well you patch or repair your roof, there comes a time when a full roof replacement is the way to go. Replacing your entire roof is a much bigger job than patching or repairing but it’s also a much better way of ensuring your roofing problems are taken care of.
It may be time to replace your roof if:
- You keep repairing it. If you notice that the shingles on your roof keep cracking or are curled at the edges and you spend too much time replacing it or carrying out repairs on your roof, a replacement may be needed. While this may cost more, you get to save in the long run by avoiding more problems.
- It is well past its sell-by date. Your roof’s lifespan depends on the material it is made of. Generally, roofs are designed to go for about 20-30 years so if it’s lasted that long, it may be time to replace it instead of doing more repairs. Slate roofs last longer than metal ones while asphalt shingles are durable. Thanks to technological advancements, asphalt shingles today can last for up to 50 years.
- It has been through a recent disaster. If your roof sustained extensive damage thanks to a hurricane, tornado, or violent storm blowing through your town, a complete replacement may be called for.
- It shows signs of obvious water damage. If your home shows signs of water damage including wet or discolored patches on the ceilings and walls, water spots or puddles on the attic floor, peeling paint, or mold, it’s probably wise to replace the entire roof.
- It is sagging. A sagging roof is an obvious sign of extensive structural damage. Replace your sagging roof straight away to avoid collapse and further damage to your home.
Contact the Roofing Experts
Christian Brothers Roofing can provide you with complete roofing services in Georgia, whether you need to replace, patch, or repair your roof. We offer affordable roofing services and our team of roofing experts have decades of experience working with all kinds of roofs. We pride ourselves on providing excellent services and our work speaks for itself.
So if you need roofing services in Georgia, give us a call at 1-770-734-6700. We’d love to help you with all your roofing needs.