If you’re thinking about purchasing a new home, or you already did, you need to get your current home ready for homebuyers. Fixing up your home before you sell it can help it sell faster and it may increase your home’s value.
There are many things potential homebuyers and home inspectors look at when they evaluate a house, and the roof is one of them. Before you list your house make sure your shingle roof looks fantastic and doesn’t need any repairs. Even small issues may turn buyers off. Check for any signs your roof needs attention and if it does, get your roof repaired before putting it on the market. Homebuyers know roof replacements are expensive, by taking the time to address small problems now, you can take the thought of a potential roof replacement off the table.
Your shingle roof endures a lot – scorching sun, pounding rain, and gusty winds. Despite this abuse, a quality shingle roof keeps protecting your home without you worrying about it too much. Or so you may think.
The truth is shingles can deteriorate and shift enough to spring leaks that trickle inside your walls and attic before they’re visibly noticeable from street level. So, while the roof over your head may still look uniform up top, lurking issues can secretly develop underneath.
The good news is subtle signs inevitably emerge even before damage gets severe. This gives you a chance to tackle problems early through relatively simple shingle roof repairs – preserving the roof instead of needing total replacement.
We’ve compiled the most common yet overlooked clues that issues may be brewing underfoot across your shingle roof. Take a look to catch these minor symptoms before they become costly nightmares.
1. Leaks and Interior Water Damage
Nothing strikes dread into a homeowner quite like emerging water stains on ceilings or walls. While plumbing mishaps may jump to mind first, another sneaky culprit could be your roof slowly (but surely) percolating water into your ceilings rather than a visible overflow cascading through obvious gaps.
It’s common for seasonal movement associated with Arizona’s extreme temperature shifts to slowly loosen shingle bonds almost imperceptibly. These leave micro gaps that can spawn sporadic drips inside attics and eventually bubble paint or staining drywall underneath.
These occasional droplets seem innocuous compared to flooded floors from burst pipes. But left unchecked over months, the associated water saturation can nurture mold, soggy insulation will lose its ability to regulate home climate , and energy bills could skyrocket.
So, be mindful to avoid dismissing stray interior leaks as one-offs. Monitor if storms exacerbate issues and identify root causes if problems indeed get worse with rainfall. You can then get any shingle vulnerabilities rectified before they become expensive interior repairs.
2. Roof Algae and Vegetation Growth
It may look harmless at first glance, but a greenish-black film ascending roof planes should raise red flags. The slimy layers likely consist of algae or moss colonies thriving off excess ambient moisture seeping through compromised shingles. Overhanging trees and limited sun exposure certainly enable growth, but robust shingle water shedding should prevent vegetation from gaining this much traction.
While non-toxic, thriving algae signals your shingles are absorbing more rainfall than intended during storms and failing to fully dry out afterward. The associated moisture accelerates decay by forcing uplift on shingles and can lead to corrosion on nails and sealants.
Before underlying deterioration advances too far or leaks manifest indoors, it’s wise to address rampant algae with preventative treatments. More importantly, identify sections of shingles showing wear that invite excess water retention and get a competent roofing contractor to fix them.
Investing in timely reinforcement can preserve your roof’s integrity much longer than dismissing vegetation as just an aesthetic nuisance while issues compound underneath.
3. Granule Buildup in Gutters
When cleaning out your gutters, take care to notice if you’re scooping out debris filled with gritty pebble-like granules alongside the usual leaves and sticks. While small amounts will generally wash off any roof over time, an excessive volume likely signals advanced wearing of protective mineral layers blanketing the shingle base.
Losing surface granules exposes the weaker fiberglass mat underneath, leaving them to deform and curl from Arizona’s intense sun exposure. Compromised sections then become prone to winds lifting edges or rain seeping underneath the roof decking.
Rather than ignoring heavy granule loss as normal wear and tear, use it as a diagnostic to pinpoint shingle patches warranting prompt reinforcement. Once you’ve found those potential problem areas, stay proactive by patching wear early while repairs remain minor – saving those pricey full roof replacements as long as possible.
You might be able to do some reinforcement jobs (such as reapplying sealant) on your own, but you should ideally contact a licensed and insured roofing company, such as Icon Roofing, based in Mesa, AZ, for peace of mind .
4. Unexpectedly High Cooling Bills
Opening a summer electricity bill projecting sky-high air conditioning costs compared to prior years probably won’t immediately trigger thoughts of checking your roof. It’s undoubtedly more likely the AC unit needs repairing or replacing. But the real culprit could be radiant heat penetration enabled by small gaps in shingle coverage.
While the roof may seem intact overall, compromised areas allow powerful sunshine access to vulnerable underlayments and insulation, meaning your AC works overtime to remove heat infiltrating the attic.
As interior hot spots form where UV rays bombard inconsistently protected roof segments, you crank the AC seemingly in vain without patching that subtle source – those gaps degrading thermal protection.
So don’t write off spiking cooling costs as infrastructure issues before carefully inspecting for hidden shingle wear. Identify thin spots or loose shingles that align with heated areas below, and then fill and reinforce these gaps to block heating UV rays.
The Value of Professional Roof Inspections
Even minor underlying issues can escalate over time once seasonal storms hit vulnerable spots. Rather than playing guessing games inspecting from the ground, professional roof inspections provide you with the following:
- Trained and experienced technicians able to spot subtle signs of compromised integrity missed by untrained eyes.
- Specialized moisture meters, probes, and seal analysis tools to evaluate hidden trouble areas.
- Peace of mind from extending your maximum roof lifespan through early preventative repairs before severe interior damage.
The modest upfront cost is pennies relative to missing indicators that balloon into major repairs once problems become clearly visible. So don’t dismiss those subtle signs. Instead, consult your local roofing pros at the first signs of trouble lurking beneath the surface and get it fixed immediately.
Don’t Ignore Early Warning Signs of Roof Shingle Problems
As we covered, subtle clues like minor leaks or skyrocketing cooling bills could mean issues lurk beneath your shingles. Minor problems can quickly develop into major issues when seasonal storms roll around.
So, rather than scratching your head and inspecting the roof yourself, bring in professionals at the first sign of trouble. Their experienced eyes and diagnostic tools will help identify issues early when fixes are quick and inexpensive. By getting on top of issues with inspections after extreme weather, you can preserve your roof for an extra five to ten years instead of wrestling with costly and unexpected roof replacements
. So stay vigilant and don’t miss those early warning signs!