When something goes wrong with your roof, you sometimes don’t find out about it until it’s too late. Little issues can eventually lead to property damage and costly repairs, which is why you shouldn’t wait until you notice something’s wrong. Instead, you should perform regular checks to identify problems and call in professionals where necessary.
Big Bear Roofing is eager to help anyone in Raleigh, North Carolina, whose roof isn’t doing its job correctly. Maybe you have blocked guttering, poor ventilation, or the roof wasn’t installed properly. Whatever the issue, our repair and replacement services are there to fix them and offer you peace of mind.
Of course, you may not know what constitutes a problem worth calling the experts for when checking your roof. If that’s the case, here’s a list of some of the most common roofing issues you’ll want to see immediately.
Blocked Guttering
Thanks to gutters, roofs can drain rainwater away and prevent it from leaking into our homes. However, these things aren’t indestructible, and getting clogged is not hard for them.
This issue is a particular problem during the later seasons when leaves can quickly accumulate in your gutters, so cleaning them is one of the best ways to winterize your home. If you don’t keep them debris-free, you risk water building up and eventually breaking the gutters. When that happens, you have to deal with leaks and dampness in your home, which can be costly to repair.
Pooling Water
If water can’t flow away from your roof, there’s something wrong with the top of your property. You’ll want a professional to immediately identify what’s causing the issue, seeing how it can be dangerous for water to collect up there. That’s because it adds extra weight to the roof, pushing its structural integrity to its limits. If the weight of the water exceeds the limit, there’s a chance it could collapse and leave your home exposed to the elements.
This issue is a problem that typically affects homes with flat roofs. After all, the more sloped a roof is, the easier it is for water to flow away. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a flat roof on your home, though, especially given its many benefits. It just means you need to be more cautious about pooling water and call for help if it looks like there’s an issue.
Top Layer Damage
If roofs didn’t have an extra layer of protection, they’d be much more vulnerable to the elements. Unfortunately, while this safety measure might be in place, that doesn’t mean it can’t be lost over time.
Overhanging branches from nearby trees can scrape the top layer off, while harsh UV rays can also do some harm. If these issues aren’t monitored or dealt with, they can leave your roof susceptible to weather damage. Regular wear and tear can be exacerbated without this protection, putting you at significant risk of leaking and property damage. That’s why you should cut off any nearby branches and have the roof inspected by professionals semi-regularly.
Roof Punctures
North Carolina receives more hurricanes than most other states in the US, and these extreme weather conditions can often damage homes. One part of your property that can be particularly vulnerable to this is your roof. It’s not uncommon for heavy wind and rain to cause punctures or penetrations in your roofing material, providing water with a convenient entry point into your home.
Assessing for this kind of damage is one of the first things you should do after a storm hits, as you’ll want such holes repaired immediately. It’s also important to remember that hail can also cause these punctures, so you should always be vigilant whenever bad weather strikes. Big Bear Roofing understands the risks it poses, which is why our roofers offer storm damage roof repair for everyone in the Raleigh area.
Lack Of Ventilation
Ventilation is essential in a home because hot air rises. That’s why roofs typically have spaces near the top and bottom where this air can escape. Unfortunately, some roofs are better ventilated than others, and for those in the latter category, there’s a significant risk of mold. That’s because poor ventilation leads to moisture developing in the higher temperatures, which is what this stuff thrives on and enjoys.
Given that North Carolina has a relatively humid climate, the last thing you want is to add more moisture to your home’s air. So, if you notice mold developing in your roof, get the ventilation sorted out immediately. You can deal with the mold problem yourself, but calling in a professional is always the superior option. That way, you don’t put your safety at risk.
Rotten Fascia Board
Where there’s wood, there’s a risk of rotting. The fascia boards on many private residences are made from this material, meaning many potential damages exist. These boards can detach from your roof in the right weather conditions, allowing rot to develop and spread. It also gives animals the perfect opportunity to make nests, which can then cause further problems for your home.
If you spot such nests or notice the fascia boards coming detached, you’ll want to get a professional on that immediately.
Poor Installation
It’s possible that your roof may not have been appropriately installed when your house was built. That’s always a risk, especially with new properties, so you should take the necessary steps when purchasing a home.
If the roof is poorly installed, you must contend with water leaking through gaps and tiles falling off quickly. That’s a significant issue due to the threat of water damage to your home. So, if the work looks shoddy, call the professionals to look it over and fix those mistakes. You might not want to have to pay for a new roof so soon after buying a home, but it’s better to deal with these problems sooner rather than later.
Roof problems are widespread, but thankfully, they’re not too hard for professionals to deal with if you catch them early. If you ever notice something’s wrong and need roof repairs or replacements in Raleigh, NC, Big Bear Roofing has your back. Just get in touch, and we’ll do everything possible to fix the problem.