A strong and healthy roof is a vital feature of any residential property. The average lifespan of a typical roof is 20 years. However, certain roofing materials, such as metal and slate, can easily last as long as 50 to 70 years, according to Bob Vila. The roof protects your home from the outside elements, so you don’t have to worry about rain and snow falling on your head. It helps keep your home at a comfortable temperature, so your rooms are always cool in summer and hot in winter. When there are cracks and other vulnerabilities, you need to look into the best roofing repair services to hire. Use this guide for further insight into what services you may need to keep your roof strong for years to come.

There Are Leaks

Don’t mess around when it comes to water leaks. Leaks can cause extensive damage to your foundation. When water gets into your foundation, it can rot the wood and weaken it. It should come as no surprise that when your house has a weak structure, the collapse of your roof and walls are highly possible.

In addition, roof leaks create water damage that acts as a breeding ground for mold. According to Qipa, mold spores can begin to grow in a wet environment in as little as 24 to 72 hours. Mold is a health hazard to your and your family’s health, as it can exacerbate existing or cause respiratory issues such as asthma, bronchitis, and more. That’s why you should hire a professional roofer to inspect your roof at least once a year. They can look out for cracks, holes, and other vulnerabilities that’ll make your roof susceptible to water damage from rain, snow, and other weather.

When it comes to your roof, leeks go beyond water. Roof vulnerabilities can also result in air leaks, which allow air to get into and out of the home. Why is this a problem? Bad insulation makes it impossible to keep your home at a comfortable temperature or humidity level. That results in higher utility bills because you have to blast your AC or heating system to make things comfortable during different seasons. Therefore, roofing repair services to hire include those that handle insulation.

What if you live in an area with air pollution? That bad air could invade your home and create an unhealthy breathing environment. If you suspect air leaks in your home, you can hire a local contractor to conduct a blue door test. If they can trace such leaks to your roof, a professional roofer can make the necessary repairs.

There Are Missing Shingles

If you look at your roof and notice missing asphalt singles, don’t let it go. Missing shingles signal it’s time to call for professional roof repairs, such as ventilation improvement. That’s right, your roof needs to be able to breathe. When the air becomes compressed within your roof structure, it can cause it to expand or contract, leading to problems like shingles coming off.

Then there’s blistering, which is when shingles expand and pop off during extreme heat. According to Sheffield Metals, missing shingles expose your roof to the elements, which can lead to leaking and premature failure. In other words, the projected 20-year lifespan of your roof can easily shorten when shingles go missing. Your contractor can check to see what the underlying problem is and make the necessary roof repairs.

The Roof Is Bowing

Imagine admiring your home’s exterior, only to see your roof has a weird dent or bow in the middle. Needless to say, you should immediately call a local roofing company for an inspection. When your roof bows in the middle like that, it’s a sign that the underlining structure has severely weakened. As mentioned, if a roof collapses, it could be a major safety issue for you and your family. What if it were to collapse on you or one of your children? It could cause devastating injuries or fatalities. With such a problem, finding someone to do a roof replacement should be among the top roofing repair services to hire.

There Was a Major Storm

A simple rain or snowstorm isn’t necessarily a cause for alarm. However, when you have strong winds, hurricanes, and heavy hail, it’s time to call your local roofing specialists to check things out. These are the roofing repair services to hire, even if you just had your regular annual inspection. A strong and healthy roof can suffer damage from a major storm like a high-level Hurricane. Have you ever seen weather reports in which tornadoes and hurricanes created such extensive damage, people had to move out temporarily or completely devastated the roof and made it unlivable? Even if the damage isn’t easily visible to you after a storm, a professional roofer knows what to look for to check for underlying structural damage.

Your Warranty Is Expiring

When your warranty is about to expire, that’s a good time to schedule a roof replacement. Do you look forward to paying several thousands of dollars for a new roof? Of course not. You can avoid doing that, as long as you keep your warranty in check. Take advantage of your remaining warranty time can call in a professional to repair your existing roof or replace it. Then you can finally have that metal or slate roof you’ve desired for a long time.

Installation professionals are the roofing repair services to hire because they ensure you don’t void your warranty. Let’s say you’re someone who loves to work with your hands, and you pride yourself on your do-it-yourself work. You may think it’s a good idea to take a weekend or vacation time to give your home a new roof. Regardless of your home repair talents, you may end up costing yourself 10s of thousands of dollars down the line. How so? If you end up doing repairs yourself, you could void your warranty. In other words, if your repairs create an issue that you later need to call a professional for, your warranty may not cover it. That’s because you did work on your roof that wasn’t in compliance, got necessary permits, or caused damage.

There’s Moss Growing

Over time, you may notice green moss on your roof. At first, you may think it looks pretty and even remind you of those cute houses in children’s story books. While that’s understandable, you may want to think twice about romanticizing a moss-covered roof. Moss is a substance that only grows in a damp environment. After your roof has suffered through rain or snowstorm, the water will naturally evaporate. However, moss holds all the moisture in, and gets under the tiles or shingles. So it’s much easier for future rainy or windy weather to blow those protective shingle layers off. As mentioned earlier, when shingles become damaged and blow off, it makes the underlying structure much weaker and highly susceptible to leaks and other damage. It can also encourage the growth of mold which further ruins your property.

You might think moss is easy to clean off yourself. The local roofing contractors have the right equipment to safely climb up on your roof, and quickly and effectively remove it for you. During that time, they can also check for any existing damage the moss may have caused. That’s why roofers who specialize in this type of work are among the best roofing repair services to hire.

There Are Granules in the Gutters

Are you noticing the constant presence of granules in the gutter? Not only does it make your gutters harder to clean, but it may be a sign there’s a problem with your shingles. Granules are added to the top surface of shingles to protect them from UV rays. However. When you start to see more and more granules in the gutter, your shingles are losing their protection and may begin to weaken and fall off easily.

At this time, those roofing businesses specializing in shingle repair and installation are the best roofing repair services to hire. The sooner you deal with a problem with your shingles, the less likely you are to have cracks or holes in your roof.

There Are Critters in the Attic

Do you sometimes hear scratching noises at night coming from the attic? Is there a little creature scurrying around, and you know you didn’t lock your dog upstairs? That may be a sign that you have unwelcomed tiny critters playing house in your attic.

According to Quick Catch, raccoons, snakes, rats, and squirrels are the top four animals found in attics. So, how does this happen? If your roof has any cracks or holes, critters can get into your home by way of the attic. A mouse can crawl into a hole as small as a dime. Those cute squirrels can climb on roofs, and birds can fly high and lay nests in weird places. Rodents, with their short gestation period, will nest anywhere that’s dark as they create several litters of rodent babies each year.

Of course, you may want to call your local extermination services first to deal with the problem. However, don’t think the job ends after the exterminators have left. Remember, if the creatures got into your home once, they can get in again without the necessary roof repairs and sealing.

If you suspect or can confirm the appearance of critters, the best thing you can do is to call your local roofing services to do the necessary repairs and inspections. As mentioned, you most likely have some type of cracks or exposures in your roof you may not be aware of. Your roofing professional can keep everything properly sealed up so that no more vermin can get in. Contractors that understand how to deal with the attic are among the best roofing repair services to hire.

There’s Light Shining in the Attic

One day, you go up to the attic to go through one of your boxes of mementos. Upon mounting the stairs, you notice rays of light shining in. Unless you installed a window you forgot about, the outside light in the attic is a big problem. Seeing light shining through the attic walls means you have cracks exposed to the outside. Don’t hesitate to call your local residential roofers, because if sunlight can come through, so can many other things. As mentioned, pests won’t hesitate to set up shop in your attic. A rain or snowstorm will make it extremely easy for your attic to suffer water damage with such a large opening.

Before you know it, you may end up with mold in the attic. You’ll know when you see slimy, dark substances on your walls. Once water gets into your attic, it’s easy for it to run down to other parts of your home and cause further damage.

What about other damage inside that space? According to Attic Care USA, the biggest problem associated with attic storage is the potential for moisture damage. You may have family heirlooms, photos, old clothing, and other special things stored in the attic. Unless you have it in airproof boxes, elements can come through those cracks and do costly damage to your personal items. Calling upon your roofing companies can help protect those valuables.

As a homeowner, you have many roofing repair services to hire to keep everything in check. The health and safety of your roof aren’t something to sleep on. You need your annual inspections, but may also need extra inspections after inclement weather. Use this guide to look for the signs of problems with your roof that will require immediate repair. Whether it’s water damage, pest infestation, air leaks, or warranty concerns, you have several roofing services to utilize that can keep your roof strong and secure for years to come.