It’s never a good day when you discover you have a leaky roof, but keeping an eye out for indicators of a roofing problem could prevent the situation from becoming disastrous.

So what signs might suggest that you should give roofing services a call? Here are a few of the most telling:

  1. Water damage: When water seeps in between cracks in a roof, you may begin to notice brown or dark spots of water damage in the ceiling or walls. If the presence of moisture goes unnoticed for long enough, it can become even more hazardous, as you’ll soon read.
  2. Algae or mold: This is a particularly serious problem for areas that have warm and humid climates, the ideal environment for mold growth. Mold and algae on top of the roof’s shingles may be more of an aesthetic issue than anything else, but if water leaks cause the growth of mold inside a home, it can be very dangerous to people’s health, especially for children and those with asthma.
  3. Cupping or buckling shingles: When shingles become old or worn out, they often begin to cup or buckle into wavy shapes. By not being uniform with the rest of the roof, strong winds can blow rain underneath, or even completely tear the shingles out.
  4. Missing shingles: If shingles are missing — yet they don’t seem to be warping — it could mean that either the adhesive has worn out, or you might even have a critter hanging out on your roof. The overlapping pattern of shingles is the key to protecting against water, so any missing shingles should be an immediate sign to call a roofing service.
  5. Clogged gutters: If you notice your gutters are overflowing from the top, you might assume they are clogged with leaves. However, there’s a good chance it could also be the granules eroding off of the shingles enough to clog the gutters. When shingles have deteriorated to this point, it typically means they are coming to the end of their life and roofing repair services should be contacted.
  6. Chimney flashing: Chimney flashing, which allows water to leak through the fittings on a chimney, can be caused by cracking shingles, but it can also be the result of improper installation. For example, roofing experts say that if a roof is installed on top of an existing roof rather than with an entire roof replacement, the life of the new roof could be cut by as much as 20%. When done correctly, fiber cement should be installed at least six inches above the roof’s original grade for optimal water protection.

With the U.S. roof contracting industry generating an estimated $46 billion every year, you can bet you won’t be alone in needing roof repairs. If you notice any of these indicators, it’s always a good idea to enlist roofing services before things become unmanageable or too expensive to repair.

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