3 Subtle Signs Of Roof Damage

Posted on: 29 September 2020

The integrity of your roofing system has a direct impact on the safety and stability of your home. It's important that you are on the lookout for damage that could compromise your roof.

Some damage is easy to spot- like missing shingles or loose flashing. Other types of roofing damage can be much more subtle, causing them to go overlooked.

Familiarize yourself with the subtle signs of roof damage so that you can better detect problems with your home's roofing system in the future.

1. Animal Activity

Have you been awoken in the night by scratching noises or the sound of scurrying critters on your roof? If so, this could be an indication that your roof is in need of repair. A host of wild animals will enter your home through any holes they find in the roof.

Squirrels, birds, rodents, and even bats will all seek shelter in a damaged roof. A sudden increase in the amount of animal activity on your roof could be an indication that critters have located a wide-open entry point.

You will need to have your roof inspected and repaired to prevent animals from damaging your home further.

2. Stray Nails

Another subtle sign of roof damage is the appearance of stray nails around the perimeter of your home. These nails might appear on the ground, or they could roll off the roof and into rain gutters.

Roofing materials will begin to deteriorate as they age. As the shingles on your roof begin to weaken, the nails holding these shingles in place could become loose. Missing nails makes it easier for shingles to get blown off your roof during a storm. Fewer nails can also make your roof more susceptible to leaks.

An experienced roofing contractor will be able to remove old roofing materials and install new shingles to help protect your home.

3. Black Spots

A residential roof that is in good condition will be uniform in color. The appearance of black spots is an indication that your roof has been compromised.

Asphalt shingles are coated with granules. These granules help to protect the shingles themselves against the damaging UV rays of the sun. The granules are also responsible for giving the asphalt shingles their color.

Anytime you see a black spot on your roof, this is an area where granule loss has occurred. Granule loss can lead to shingle failure, so it's important to address black spots as soon as they appear.

To learn more, contact a roofing company.

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