Hearing that a roof is damaged or starting to see damage can be scary for a homeowner because there’s always the worry the entire roof needs to be replaced. This can be costly and might not be something the homeowner can cover with their homeowner’s insurance. Before getting worried, read through some of the most common types of damage to the roof and whether or not a full replacement might be needed.
Damaged or Improperly Installed Flashing
The flashing is the parts of metal on all joints in the roof to prevent water from getting under the shingles. If this is damaged in a storm or not repaired properly, it can allow water to get in and damage the home. If this is noticed before the water has caused extensive damage under the shingles, a roofing company like https://eriemetalroofs.com/ can repair or replace the flashing.
Water Damage Following a Storm
Heavy rainfall or snow on a roof can lead to damaged roofs. Snow is a huge concern because it is heavy and water damage can occur as the snow melts. The roof should be checked out following severe weather. If the damage is noticed, it can be repaired if it’s not too severe and the roof is not too old.
Damage Due to Hail
Hail is balls of ice falling during a severe storm. The ice is hard and can damage the shingles or the flashing on the roof. Whether or not this can be repaired depends on how severe the damage is. Just a few broken shingles can often be repaired easily, but more serious damage may lead to a roof replacement. Always check the roof carefully after a storm with hail.
Lost Shingles on the Roof
Debris, wind and heavy rain can sometimes cause shingles to fall off the roof. They can also come off if they were not installed properly or are too old. If there are only a few missing shingles, these can typically be replaced. If the roof is very old or a lot of shingles fell off the roof, it may require a full replacement.
Structural Damage to the Roof
If a large tree branch falls on the home or the home settles significantly, damage to the roof’s structure occurs. This shows up as buckling, tilting or other major issues. Structural issues often require a full replacement of the roof as the entire roof will need to be removed to fix the underlying issue. Homeowners usually need to have structural issues fixed immediately as they can lead to far more serious and more expensive issues.
Issues Due to the Roof’s Age
Roofs aren’t designed to last forever. If the roof is older and there is curling, cracking, cupping or other issues with the shingles, it’s a sign the roof needs to be replaced. Flaking, where the shingles are deteriorating and coming off, is one type of damage that could mean the roof is extremely old and needs to be replaced immediately.
The roof is designed to be a sturdy structure, but it is exposed to the elements and will wear down or become damaged. Depending on the damage to the roof, it may be possible to repair instead of fully replace the roof. Homeowners experiencing any of these issues should have an expert inspect the roof immediately to find out if repairs are possible for their situation.
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