How to Identify Common Roof Problems in Saddle Brook, NJ
Your roof protects you from the elements, keeps your home at a comfortable temperature, safeguards your belongings, and can impact your utility bills. Don’t you think it’s one of the most important parts of your property?
Unfortunately, different things can damage your roofing system, especially if you live in a place like Saddle Brook, NJ, where weather patterns are ever-changing.
The good news is that most roof problems can be solved without causing major damage and significant expenses if detected and addressed early.
Don’t know how to do it? In this guide, you can learn how to identify some of the most common roof issues and what to do if you recognize them. Read on!
Look for Missing, Curling, or Damaged Shingles
Damaged or missing shingles are the most common roofing problem homeowners may encounter. However, they’re typically overlooked, which can cause even more issues.
New Jersey’s weather is unpredictable and can turn extreme at times. In fact, storm events have increased in intensity, frequency, and duration in recent years.
Heavy storms, strong winds, hurricanes and tornadoes, hailstorms, falling tree branches, and many other events can affect roof shingles. It’s important to assess any potential underlying problems and replace them as soon as possible to avoid causing further damage to the structure.
Ideally, you should inspect your roof shingles at least once a year or after severe weather, looking for the following signs:
⦁ Missing or broken shingles
⦁ Damaged shingles with cracks, blisters, or missing granules
⦁ Old shingles (those that are curling or buckling or have dark or bald spots, cracks, discoloration, visible wearing, and excessive moss growth)
⦁ Interior leaks inside your property
⦁ Algae, moss, or piles of leaves accumulated on your roof
Inspect Your Roof for Leaks
Is your roof leaky? This is another common roofing problem homeowners face in Saddle Brook. If left untreated, leaks can cause additional damage to the entire system, potentially compromising the structure, materials, and key components.
Roof leaks can have different causes, including the following:
⦁ Pipe boot failure
⦁ Missing or broken shingles
⦁ Broken flashing
⦁ Improper installation
⦁ Clogged gutters
⦁ Ice dams
⦁ Attic condensation
⦁ Cracked chimney
⦁ Improperly installed or failing skylights
If your roof has leaks, even if small, it’s recommended that you repair them right away. Therefore, you should carefully inspect the area near the flashing and around the chimney, gutters, skylights, pipes, valleys, and penetrations.
Water damage, such as wet insulation in the attic, mold growth, dark spots on roofing materials, sagging structures, wall discoloration, and water stains on ceilings, can be common signs of leaks.
Check Gutters
Is water spilling over the sides or edges of your gutters? Are you noticing that very little water is coming out from the downspouts when it rains? More often than not, this suggests that gutters are clogged. The same is true if they’re sagging or have visible debris or plant growth.
Unlike other components that require low maintenance, gutters should be inspected and cleaned at least twice a year, before and after the rainy season.
Check If There’s Roof Shrinkage
Although most common with rubber membrane roofing, shrinkage can occur in any roofing material.
Additionally, extreme temperature fluctuations can impact how much roofing materials expand and contract. So, this issue is more common in areas with unpredictable weather, such as Saddle Brook.
The following are the most common signs of roof shrinkage:
⦁ Bubbles, cracks, and wrinkles around penetrations and seams
⦁ Sagging roof
⦁ Seams pulling apart
⦁ Water stains on the ceiling
⦁ Tears around the flashing or shingles
⦁ Standing or “pooled” water in certain areas
Look for Underlayment or Flashing Damage
Flashing protects the protruding areas of roofs –vents, chimneys, skylights, and HVAC systems– from water damage, and underlayment provides a second layer of protection from the elements. Both are key components in a roofing system.
Damaged underlayment can cause the roof to sag, leading to water standing or pooling. This problem often results in moisture buildup, creating the perfect environment for mold, mildew, and algae growth. In addition, it can compromise the structure’s integrity.
Flashing must be properly installed and remain securely and correctly attached to the roof. Otherwise, it can let water seep underneath, causing significant structural damage, too.
To detect any problems with your roof flashing or underlayment, inspect both components regularly and look for the following signs:
⦁ Tears and holes in the underlayment
⦁ Loose or lifted flashing
⦁ Buckling or warping shingles
⦁ Water stains or mold growth near flashing points
⦁ Visible gaps or separations around vents, valleys, and chimneys
⦁ Rust and corrosion (on metal flashing)
⦁ Damp or musty odors on your property
⦁ Sagging rooflines or uneven roof surface
⦁ Roof leaks and water intrusion
⦁ Increased energy costs
⦁ Light coming through the attic
Inspect Your Roof for Pest Activity
Roofs can be susceptible to pet infestation just like any other part of your home. Termites and carpenter bees can destroy damaged and untreated wooden components, but this isn’t the only problem you may face.
Rodents can chew sections of the roof material or underlayment, for example. Birds can also cause a lot of trouble if they nest inside your chimney. These creatures will find any weakness in your system in order to get into your property.
If you find droppings in certain areas, hear unusual noises (scratching and scurrying), see grease marks or urine stains, or notice strange odors, you may be facing a pest infestation.
In this case, the best thing you can do is call an expert roofing contractor to address the issue and seal any potential entry point to avoid future problems.
Final Thoughts
Although your roof can develop several problems over time, you can protect its integrity and ensure it has a long lifespan if you stay vigilant and identify these signs before it’s too late.
Did you recognize any roofing problems? A seasoned roofing contractor can assess the damage, recommend the most suitable solution, and ensure your roof is in excellent condition!