9 Warning Signs of Roof Leaks
Your roof may be telling you something. There are various reasons why roofs leak. Here are 9 warning signs that present reasons for concern during the life of a roof.
There are also many less obvious items which allow water intrusion which are frequently missed. Small roof leaks cause rotten wood and even mold and mildew just like large leaks do. However, small roof leaks are frequently not discovered, by the untrained eye, until they are large enough to become obvious. By then complete roof replacement is frequently necessary.
The best way to be certain your roof is in tip-top shape is to have it regularly inspected by an experienced roofing professional.
Roof Leak Warning Sign #1: Algae and Mold
- Occurs most often in warm, humid climates such as the southeast United States
- Caused by growth of airborne fungi or algae deposited on roof
- May not impact overall life of the shingle, but could indicate potential problems
Roof Leak Warning Sign #2: Buckling Shingles
- May be caused by improperly applied felt
- May be caused by movement in the deck of the roof
Roof Leak Warning Sign #3: Curling Shingles
- May be caused by water absorption
- May be caused by hot air in the attic
- Does not effectively protect the roof from leaks
Roof Leak Warning Sign #4: Damaged Flashing
- Caused by improper installation (on new roof)
- Caused by drying and cracking (on old roof)
- Can sometimes be repaired without replacing roof
Roof Leak Warning Sign #5: Granule Loss
- Normally a certain number of granules will be loose, especially after application
- On aging shingles, indicates need for replacement
Roof Leak Warning Sign #6: Lack Of Attic Ventilation
- Results in trapped hot air in the attic
- Forces air conditioner to work harder (and possibly break down)
- Bakes the roof’s shingles
Roof Leak Warning Sign #7: Missing Shingles
- Caused by storms and high wind speeds
- Usually related to improper fastening of the shingles
Roof Leak Warning Sign #8: Roof Rot
- Caused by absorption of of moisture in the mat
- More common with organic-based shingles
Roof Leak Warning Sign #9: Ceiling or Roof Spots
- When water gets through, you may see water stains in your ceiling
- Leaks may appear around chimneys and vents
- Leaks may even ‘travel’ down rafters and show up away from the original source
Call Sonshine Roofing now at 941-866-4320 to learn more about our Roof Care Club and schedule a roof inspection. Our “Roof Health Checkup” inspection will show you any flaws caused by unforeseen events, faulty workmanship, or defective materials, your roof may have. And if your roof has no problems we will gladly give you clean bill of roof health. A small investment for an inspection can save you thousands of dollars later and provide you peace of mind knowing you have been proactive to insure that your roof can protect and keep you, your love ones and possessions, safe and dry inside your home.
Algae and roof rot are the grossest ones. They make your roof look really trashy, it’s sad.
It’s important to know that hail does not have to be large in order to damage your roof. If a hail storm is also accompanied by high winds, then hail as small as a pea can damage your roof. It’s almost impossible to identify hail or storm damage from the ground. The best way is to have a professional from a roofing company physically inspect the roof.
You are absolute right about small hail damaging roofs. Here in Florida we do not have the hail problem but other small items such as flying debris and tree branches have can also damage the roof. Tree branches do not even have to be big enough to be viable from the ground. That why, like you said, have a roofing professional inspect the roof. We recommend at least one time per year.
I know some of these signs are kind of more obvious than others, but some really surprised me as I wouldn’t have thought to notice them. In particular, shedding granules wasn’t something that I would have thought would have been a sign. So this is good to know. I haven’t had my roof inspected in a long time, so I should probably take the advice of the other commenters and get on that.
I grew up around construction and have personally been in the roofing business since 1974. It was not until recently that I become aware of the value of having the roof checked at least once per year. With regular roof checkup and by maintaining it, you can extend the roof’s useful service life.
Good job. I like the details and pictures for the warning signs of leaky roofs. I can’t tell you how many roofs I’ve been up on that look like some of these pictures! It’s great that your helping your customers realize what to look for.
Thanks Doug Oliver Development. Your right these pictures do help identify problems to look for. And there are still so many other small leaks that are not easy to see except to an experienced eye.
These are definitely signs that there is a problem with your roof. If you see any of these signs, get an expert out as soon as you can to assess the situation and fix what needs to be fix. This can help prevent much bigger problems that may occur down the line.
You will have to show me proof for your explanations for certain roof leaks that you talk about . I have already had 3 so called roofers here and none yet has found reason for that leak . Any flashing is at least 6 feet away , and I am talking about caps, there is one vent , but , I have already replaced it believing that water was blowing in thru vent holes in sides of that vent . Roof is 9 years old , it is dimensional , has there ever been defective shingles after 9 years , I doubt that . But , have you heard that story about someone like who made one mistake in his life , and he explained that that was because he thought he made one . By , the way. contrary to those roofers , there is no need , whatsoever to nail thru bottom of a roof vent . That could leak .
It is interesting to know that shingles can curl. My attic gets really hot, and I think that I need to pay more attention to the exterior of my house to help prevent any disasters. Thank you for the advice on getting your roof inspected regularly. I will definitely be looking for a professional.
Wow, I had no idea that buckling shingles could mean that the roof is moving. My sister has been worried about her roof, and think that she might have a leak in it after the last rainstorm. I will be sure to forward this article to her so that she can confirm any suspicion.
I didn’t know that curling shingles are ineffective when it comes to protecting your roof from leaks. The weather was extremely hot last week and cause some of my shingles to curl and fall off of my roof, and I would like to repair it before it rains in a few days. I’ll find a roof repair service that can repair or replace my shingles.
I had no idea that curling shingles indicate that your attic is too hot and that your roof will not be able to sufficiently resist leaks. Ever since it started getting warmer in my area, I have noticed that some of my asphalt shingles have started to curl and fall off of my roof, and I need to make sure that my roof is during an upcoming storm. It may be best for me to hire a professional that can help me repair my roofing.
We just opened a roofing company and came across this article. Thank you for taking the time to break down these signs of of a leaky roof. These signs are very common and looked over on a monthly, if not daily, basis. It is so important to keep an eye on your roof consistently. Thanks again!