Your home’s roof is one of those important elements that you likely don’t pay much attention to on a regular basis. It’s only when you notice leaking in your home or shingles in your yard that you might wonder about the health of your roof. Know the signs of roof rot when checking on your roof’s status.
Regular Inspections Are Key
Regularly inspecting your roof and the interior structures of your home can help you detect early signs of roof rot before they become more extensive. Most homeowners can perform these inspections without any special tools and you don’t need to climb up on the roof to perform a basic inspection.
Signs Of Roof Rot
During the inspections of your roof and the interior of your home, look for the presence of the signs of roof rot outlined below. You should also look for these signs after a storm or other inclement weather that could compromise the integrity of your roof.
Roof Ridge Issues
Make a visual inspection of the outside of your home. Pay particular attention to the roof ridge. This is the uppermost part of your roof. You should be able to find it easily because it should be a fairly long portion of the roof and it should be an even, straight line.
Any sagging or buckling of the roof ridge is a sign of roof rot. This could be happening because the support beams are starting to rot and buckle. It’s a sign that the integrity of your entire home could be compromised.
Ice Dams
An ice dam occurs when snow and/or ice pile up on the edge of the roof. This prevents the water from melted snow from draining away from the roof. When the water is trapped behind the ice dam, it can start leaking into your home. Damage to the ceilings, walls, insulation and other areas can occur.
Mold in the Attic
If you’re like most people, you rarely go into your attic except for a few times a year to put something away. Your home can benefit from regular inspections of the attic as well as the roof.
Armed with a flashlight, go into your attic and take a look at the plywood and insulation. If you see black mold or water — or if you smell mold — it’s likely that you have a leak somewhere in your roof that’s allowing water to come into your home.
Broken Gutters
Gutters are designed to channel the water away from your roof so that it won’t rot. If you notice that your gutters are broken or that they are full of leaves and other debris, water might be flowing down the sides of your home instead. This could lead to water constantly being present under your roof’s eaves.
Missing Shingles
If your roof is missing more than a few random shingles that flew off after a bad wind storm, you might be looking at a sign of roof rot. Curled shingles or shingles that are missing their granules are both a sign that they need to be replaced as soon as possible. Not doing so could leave your home exposed to the elements and lead to roof rot.
Contact EC Roofing for Repairs Today
If you’ve noticed any of the signs of roof rot noted above — or if you have any concerns about the condition of your roof — you need to take action right away. The integrity of your entire home could be compromised otherwise. EC Roofing has been providing roofing services and other home improvement services since 1992. Contact us today at 410-455-9880 to learn how we can help protect your home today.
