Your home’s ability to protect you from the elements starts with its roof. The roof shields you and your possessions from all types of weather, from the sun’s glare to a winter snowfall. Not only does your roof protect the contents of your home, it protects the home itself. A leaky roof can cause serious damage to your ceiling and walls. If left unaddressed for too long, it can undermine the structural integrity of your house.  Roofing manufacturers recommend that you perform a quick check of your roof at least twice a year. However, if you pay close attention, you’ll be able to notice changes as they happen and prevent serious damage from affecting the rest of the house.

Need a Roof?Outside Tells of Worn Roofing The first signs of wear and age on a roof will be evident from the outside.  By keeping an eye on the appearance and condition of your roof from the outside, you can generally spot problem areas before they affect the rest of your home. If you cannot see your roof easily from your yard or driveway, you may want to climb up on a ladder for a bit more perspective.
  1. Visual wear: Cracked, torn, bald (when the mineral granule surface of a shingle has weathered away), curling, or missing shingles.
  2. Loose shingles: These may occur particularly around chimneys, vents, pipes, or other protrusions jutting from the roof.
  3. Free granules: When granules loosen from their shingles, they will usually collect in the gutters, adding to clogging debris. Significant amounts of granules wearing off could indicate that your roof is nearing an end, and you may already have leaks.
  4. Discoloration: Tile discoloration could be a sign of rot, mold, or algae growth. Mold and fungi can grow quickly and may both be attracted to water buildup as well as aggravate water buildup.
  5. Exposed nails: These can provide a route for water to travel down to drip into your house.
  6. Sagging: Especially at the edges or center of the roof.
Interior Signs of Roof Distress While most roof problems start with a condition that is visible from the outside, these issues will eventually begin to affect the inside of your home. Unfortunately, if you have these types of problems, there will likely need to be interior repair work performed in addition to the replacement of the roof. From within your home, you may be able to spot signs of a leaky roof by examining your ceiling or attic.
  1. Sagging: Dips or unevenness in the ceiling, particularly if they were not there when you first moved in or if they have worsened over time. This could be a sign of rotting wood or water damage.
  2. Discoloration: May appear in spots or trails; indicative of water damage. Crinkled or puffed up sections of paint may also point to dampness within the walls. In the attic, dark, discolored wood may indicated the presence of mold.
  3. Show-through: Outside light visible through the roof. These cracks or spots, no matter how small, are direct channels to the outside and allow water to easily pass through.
  4. Leaks: If water is dripping from the ceiling, check the pipes, but it could instead be time for a new roof.
When to Contact the Professionals

If you suspect that your roof needs replaced, contact the Pittsburgh remodeling contractors at Legacy Remodeling. Certified roofing professionals like the ones at Legacy can ensure that your new roofing system installation goes as smoothly as possible.