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Much More Than Just a Drip: How a Leaky Roof Can Cause Serious Damage to Your Home

Water damaged ceiling and wall, white becomming brown

A leaky roof can be a source of irritation at first, but if you allow the problem to go unresolved for any amount of time, it can become much more than that, and could potentially cause some serious damage to your home.

If you are facing immediate roofing issues and want to find out more about what a professional service can help you with, check out FergusonRoofing.com. In terms of what sort of problems you might be contending with, here is a look at some of the common issues and warning signs.

Be mindful of mold

It is probably fair to say that mold and mildew issues represent perhaps one of the most serious threats to your property, as mold has the capacity to spread throughout your home’s structure if allowed to do so, which is why you have to be particularly mindful of mold.

Black mold is one of the most common forms you will find around the home and this normally appears as a result of a high level of moisture or water intrusion. One of the culprits in this respect would be a leaky roof that is allowing water to invade your property. Much of your home’s interior surfaces and are susceptible to mold damage. That also goes for your furniture, personal effects inside cabinets or wardrobes and even your HVAC system.

Toxic black mold is thankfully far less common, but non-toxic black mold is certainly nothing to be complacent about.

The presence of mold and mildew in your home can lead to some serious health problems, especially if you are susceptible respiratory problems and allergies. Any signs of mold should be immediately investigated so that you can identify the source of the problem.

Look above you for signs of a problem

The initial signs of damage to the inside of your property that are due to problems with your roof, will likely appear as attic or ceiling damage.

If you have an attic in the property, inspect it regularly to see if you can spot any obvious signs of water ingress. Check for any damp spots or other telltale signs that water is getting in, such as water damage to items stored in your attic.

If you don’t have an attic and the damage is bad enough to start invading your property on a wider scale, you need to look up at your ceiling and see if you can see anything that doesn’t look right.

Ceiling paint that has been affected by water damage will often turn a darker shade and if you have ceiling plaster, that might start to bubble and expand in response to the water damage. You could also experience issues with electrical items on the ceiling such as ceiling fans and light fittings.

Structural problems

Any structural problems caused by water damage are of serious concern and a leaking roof that is left unresolved, has the potential to compromise the structural integrity of your home.

Damage can occur to your rafters, ceiling joists and other integral aspects of your property, including fascia boards. A serious leak has the capacity to lead to highly damaging wood deterioration and you certainly couldn’t afford to be complacent about the prospect of a weakened or rotten wood frame, causing you some worrying and expensive consequences.

Prevention is always better than the cure in this scenario and the cost of any roof repairs may well pale into insignificance in comparison to the cost of structural repairs needed as a result of water damage to your home.

Deciding whether to repair or replace your roof

Replacing your roof is not a decision you can take lightly especially considering the likely cost of such a procedure. There are however a number of key factors which can help you to confirm whether some repairs to your roof will suffice, or whether you have gone beyond that point.

The age of your roof is certainly a factor. The general consensus is that a typical roof should give you at least 20 years of service, so if your roof is beyond that time period, it might be that normal wear and tear has taken its toll and it may be time to think about replacing it.

It is always a good idea to get a professional opinion regarding the state of your roof. If you are proactive and diligent about looking after your roof and doing repairs when they are needed alongside regular maintenance, you could get a lot more than 20 years out of your roof.

Things like missing shingles need to be investigated and signs of shingle granules in the gutters can also be a sign of wear and tear.

If you want to protect your roof and your home, it would be a good idea to call a roofer when you spot any signs of trouble.

Bethany Pearce loves DIY projects and has now taken that passion 1 step further by renovating her own home. She equally enjoys writing and often shares her tips with homeowners in her articles.

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