Water Damage And Roofing. Tips from professionals

Water damage in a home can not only disrupt your life, but it can be costly to repair. What makes the problem even worse is when the roof leaks and creates water damage. Installing a new roof or fixing water-damaged roofs are both tasks that you want to take care of immediately.

Water Damage and Roofing

Acting quickly is key with roof damage. If you spot water damage in your house, the first step is to find the origin. Water will flow to the lowest point so that the roof damage can be in a different higher location. Check the roof for cracks, cracked tiles, or shingles. Water only needs a small gap.

In this blog post, I will provide you with in-depth details about water damage and roofing. How can you detect water damage? How to know when your roof is experiencing damage from water or wind. And how to prevent your roof tiles from breaking.

Can You Detect Water Damage?

Water damage can be easy to spot in case of apparent signs, such as water dripping through cracks in the ceiling or wall. In other cases, a leak can also show itself in ways that are more difficult to identify, such as musty odor or insect infestations.

Other common signs of water damage on your ceiling are:

• Discolored spots, which can be copper, yellow, or brown
• A bulging drywall
• Peeling, cracking, or bubbling  on your wall surfaces
• Discolored growths
• Water stains on your  ceiling
• A sagging ceiling
• Mold

There are various sources of water damage both within and outside your house. As the roof is the part that sees the most rain, it is the part that is often to blame. Keep in mind that if the leak is small, it can take some time before the damage will be visible. It can mean that you discover it on a day where it does not even rain.

How Do You Know If Your Roof Is Water Damaged?

As a homeowner, failing to notice any signs that your roof has sustained water damages will result in worse and more complicated issues. Several warning signs such as cracked tiles, foul smells, and mold indicate water damage on your roof. Some of these signs may be simple to notice and others harder to see.

Common signs to look out for when your roof is water damaged include:

● Missing shingles

Shingles are quite trendy for the best reasons, and they are your roof’s first shield from water damages. Any shingle granules, loose pieces, or flecks in your gutters is a sure sign of a water-damaged roof. I always recommend checking your roof carefully after a storm or other event where the roof can be damaged.

● Cracked or moved shingles

It can be a clear sign of trouble if you notice that shingles or roof tiles have moved or contained cracks. Shingles can move slightly if they are not appropriately attached, particularly after a storm. Or an object has hit the roof and resulted in the shingles cracking of moving. In many cases, it will be hard to spot. But water only needs a small gap to get into your house.

● Discolored ceilings and leaks

Contrary to what most homeowners think, you don’t have to catch water dripping from your ceiling to ascertain that water damage has occurred. Often, a brownish, yellow, or cream discoloration on your ceiling indicates a more significant issue on your roof. As water can easily flow to a lower point, the leak in the roof does not need to be above the location where you notice the discolorization.

● Damaged ceiling and paint

Water damages on your roof may lead to water seeping through your walls or ceilings. Eventually, the leaking will soak the painted surface, causing flakes and loosening the surface painting. The whole process can go really quickly, but when the leak is small take quite some time.

● Bulging and sagging ceiling sections

Bulging or sagging sections of your ceiling are apparent shreds of evidence that water has seeped through your ceiling. You may also notice soft and spongy areas or creaking sounds.

● Roof penetrations

Structural systems in your roof, such as plumbing vents, chimneys, and electrical cables, are all installed and appropriately sealed on your roof. Any unusual penetrations of these elements could be a sign of impending water damages and are an urgent call for a thorough inspection.

How Do I Know If My Roof Is Damaged By Wind?

Unknown to many people, winds do not have to be huge as in hurricanes and tornadoes to cause damages to your roof. Even the typical speedy winds are enough to start severe damages on your roof.

Some of the ways to know if your roof is sustaining damages by wind are:

• Losing granules on your shingles
• Curling, flapping, or missing shingles
• Flying debris
• Flashing around pipes and chimneys
• A leaking roof following strong destructive winds
• Dislodged gutters

How Do I Know If My Roof Has Storm Damage?

Although your roof is made strong to withstand the effects of harsh weather conditions and strong wind, it is always possible that something happens. Always check your roof after a strong wind. Check if all tiles or shingles are in place and do not move. Water only needs a small gap to get into your house.

In some cases, it is challenging to spot a problem. If you suspect your roof may have sustained storm damages, look for other signs. Check the underside of the roof as thoroughly as possible. Keep in mind that water always tries to go to the lowest point. This means that this is often where you will spot it. But that doesn’t mean that this is the location where the roof problem is.

If this also doesn’t help, you can look for signs of water damage in your house. This can be weakened roof support, insect infestation on your roof, an outbreak of mold, or any further visible water infiltration. But most of these effects will take some time to appear and mean more damage inside the wall or ceiling.

The damage can be done during a storm or with a hard wind. But the leakage can occur at another time when it is raining, and the wind comes from such a direction that it gets into the gap. That can also mean that it will not leak during rain when the wind comes from another direction. Whereat another day, with maybe less severe rainfall, it can.

How Do You Prevent Water Damages On Your Roof?

Whether your roof has sustained water damages before or you just recently built, here are a few measures to help you prevent leaking and water damage:

• Gutters: Clean and keep your gutters clear at all times.
• Detection: Install water detection devices.
• Inspection: Inspect your roof regularly on the inside and outside, especially for mold growth the flushing, among other crucial components
• Ice and snow: Get rid of ice build-ups and ponding whenever it is snowing.
• Maintenance: Repair missing shingles and replace them as soon as you notice they are missing.

If you suspect that something is wrong, but you can not find the reason. I always recommend asking a professional for help. The cost of waiting and doing nothing can be much higher than what you have to pay now for the help.

What Is A Common Cause Of Ruptures in a Flat Roof Membrane?

A flat roof with membrane ruptures is a common indication that your roof is getting older. This is because the membranes are progressively heated as the sun shines on them right after you have had them successfully installed. After a few more years, heating, cooling, and fluctuating roof temperatures, cracks begin to form, and ruptures occur in the material.

Some material also ages and gets weaker because of the sun. The rays can weaken some of the components in the roofing material. This is why they sometimes put pebbles or another material on top of the flat roof, so it is not exposed to the sun.

How To Fix Ruptures in a Flat Roof Membrane

When the roof membrane is generally still in good condition, you can patch it. Clean the area thoroughly, and let it dry completely so the adhesive will stick well. Patch an area that is slightly larger than the damaged part.

If the roof membrane is old and not in good condition, I recommend replacing it. You can patch the ruptured area, but it often means it will rupture in another area soon. And this always happens at an inconvenient time.

One of the most effective and lasting ways to deal with membrane ruptures on your flat roof is to put in a new coating. But before applying a sealant, clean the roof well and wait for it to completely dry. Next, you can apply an appropriate roof deck primer. After that, you can reinforce the coatings you applied and ensure a uniform look throughout.

What Causes Roof Tiles To Break?

Various factors can cause your roof tiles to break:

• Impact or force damage: From extreme weather conditions such as large hailstones. Impact with parts of a tree or other material is one of the biggest culprits. If you have larger trees nearby, I recommend pruning them and removing parts that do not look healthy.
• Birds: Bigger birds can land on your roof, or they can peck at moss continuously and, in the process, cause the tiles to run down and break.
• Incorrect installation: When installing tiles, failure to distribute weight evenly and leaving too large spaces in between will cause unnecessary stress and subsequent breakage. Heating and cooling cycles will finally lead to breakage. This can take some time to occur

How Do You Deal With A Broken Tile?

It is necessary to replace a broken or cracked tile as soon as possible. Especially if the crack is on both sides of the tile. It is also possible to repair broken tile corners with adhesives if the missing piece is not more than three inches long.

If you opt to repair, ensure to use adhesives designed explicitly for clay or concrete tile to achieve a uniform look on the title. Ensure the tile is fully dry. Do not ignore the instructions provided for the users for you to follow.

You can have the bottom edge of your roof tiles distressed to create a more random or ragged appearance if you love aesthetics. However, it would be best if you were very careful with this because the chips you decide to make should not interfere with the quality of the tiles or, worse, compromise your roof’s integrity.

How Do You Prevent Roof Tiles From Breaking?

To prevent your roof tiles from breaking, you should consider a few preventive measures.

• Position: Position your tiles correctly.
• Tile fit: Source the most suitable tiles that perfectly fit your roof.
• Inspection: Inspect your roof a few times a month, especially after strong winds, heavy rains, or storms.
• Don’t wait: Deal with any issues as soon as you notice them. Avoid procrastinating to do repairs.
• Professional: Contact a professional to install the tiles for you.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. After how long should I repair or replace my roof?

Generally, a lower-quality shingle roof will last around 15 to 25 years before it needs to be replaced. High-quality shingles will last considerably longer, with a lifetime of up to 40 years or more. Of course, the life of your roof depends on many different factors, such as the quality of your roof material. For instance, materials made with high quality, such as slate and composite, are most likely to last longer compared to their lower quality counterparts.

2. How much does it cost to repair a water-damaged roof?

You can expect to pay in the direction of $200 to $1000 for minor roof repairs. If the damage is more extensive, the cost can be as high as $2000 to $4000. The exact price in your situation will depend on various factors like the type of roofing material, the size of the roof, and the extent of the damage.

I recommend calling a few professionals and asking for a quote to get the best price.

3. How do I know the best roofing material for me?

There is a lot of different roofing material available. Some are cheaper, and some are more expensive. Some materials will last considerably longer than others. The first step is to choose the style you like. And what color do you want?

Check what type of roofing materials matches your style and color. Often you have multiple options. Check the material’s durability and longevity. If you expect to stay in your house for quite some time, a more expensive, longer-lasting material can be a better choice. If you expect to move in a few years, you can choose a more cost-effective material.