Don’t let yourself be caught by sudden and expensive costs to your roof. Learn how to watch your roof carefully and how to find problem areas before they turn into costly repairs that impact your budget severely. The following are 7 signs and common symptoms of a failing roof:

  • A Leak in the Roof Space:

Take a look into the attic for traces of water, after a strong and wind driven rain or storm. Ice damming may also bring water into the house, if you don’t have a proper shingle underlayment or if the material (usually metals like steel or aluminum) over roof joints, like pipes or chimneys, has deteriorated.

  • Decaying or Peeling Paint Material on the Interior or Exterior of the House:

Extreme temperature or excessive high humidity due to a poor attic airing, is very likely to cause a high amount of moisture in the house, leading to the decay and peeling of the interior or exterior paint. To counter the situation, one has to reduce the humidity by improving the ventilation of the roof space. This is done by letting air flow freely from the soffit to the ridge. A good ventilation for places like the kitchen or bathroom should not be forgotten.

  • Mold or Mildew Growth; Stains on Interior Ceilings or Walls:

Stains or, even worse, signs of mold growth inside the house are telltale signs of excessive levels of humidity that can be caused by a failing ventilation of the roof space or an inadequate or faulty shingle underlayment that is letting water run into the house. In any case, excessive amounts of moisture, a condition that mold and mildew love and thrive in, is the culprit.

  • Exterior Decay, Sheathing, and/or Siding:

Once again, a poor ventilation of the roof space is the perpetrator, but any circumstances that lead to a high level of moisture can contribute to decay. One solution for countering the problem is to install a vapor barrier between the insulation and the house interior. This can reduce the quantity of moisture that seeps into the wall and help the moisture escape from the wall.

  • Dark and Dirty-Looking Areas on the Roof:

Dark and dirty-looking areas on the roof could mean that the roof has mold, fungus, vegetation or algae growth and that the protective granules have been lost. You don’t need to necessarily replace the entire roof, but these stains can reduce curb appeal. Fortunately, there are many shingles that are guaranteed against stains. You should properly check that with the vendor and read the small print when buying new shingles. You could also clean the shingles, but the process could shorten their life.

  • High Energy Costs:

High energy costs are potential symptoms of a bad ventilation of the attic. In such situations, improper ventilation will trap hot air in the attic, leading the air-conditioning system to work harder to compensate it. The moisture will condense on the rafters and drip down onto the insulation, reducing its effectiveness and potentially increasing energy costs.