New Jersey is notorious for having harsh winters, ones that have no lack of snow or freezing cold weather. With this weather comes certain dangers, ones that can put you and your loved ones in some grave situations. This article is going to outline all of the things you should look out for in a damaged roof, and what you can do to help prevent such things.
Common Signs of damaged roof:
Although you should always leave the professional assessment to a licensed contractor, there are some signs that you should keep an eye out for and some things you should do:
- It looks bad from the street- If you are able to tell all the way from the edge of your driveway that your roof just looks old, and you will be able to tell, it’s a sure sign that you are in need of a roof replacement.
- It’s old- Most asphalt shingle roofs have a lifespan of twelve to twenty years, in the best conditions. If you have lived in your house for ten years at least and have had to repair the roof multiple times within that timespan, chances are your roof’s time is just about up. If you have inherited an older house, check to see if there is any old paperwork in the basement or attic. Any work that was done to a home was normally recorded for insurance purposes.
- Its shingles look bad- If you are able to get onto your roof by yourself (Take caution when doing so!) take a look at your shingles. If you notice any of their edges look to be curling up, or they have been chipped off, this is a key sign that your roof is at the end of its life. Also look for moss growing on your shingles. This moss will have a negative impact on your shingles, and it can grow under them and damage not only the shingles, but the roof as well!
- There are granules all over the place- Asphalt shingles all contain small fragments of debris to help give them stability and keep them waterproof. As your roof ages, the asphalt is worn away leaving the debris from the shingles all over your roof. It will look like small pebbles or black sand.
- Your energy bills are rising- If you start to notice your energy bills rising, this may be a result of a faulty damaged roof. If your roof is not being vented properly, or it has a hole, there may be air escaping outside, resulting in higher A/C usage in the summer and increased heating bills during the winter.
- It’s leaking into your attic- Probably the most obvious of all the signs, water leaking into your attic. Look for multiple leaks, as more than one can indicate you have damage from deterioration rather than from a single isolated incident.
What Can You Do?
Now that you’re aware of what you should be looking for, if you noticed any of the aforementioned symptoms wrong with your roof, the first step is to call us at Northkit Roofing, and we will walk you through all of the steps, or you may also do any of the following:
- Give us a call: As mentioned above, the absolute easiest way for you to get on top of your roof repair work is to call Northkit Roofing. While the internet is an amazing place where you can find information or DIY videos on just about anything, it is still best to leave very important jobs such as roof repairs to licensed professionals.
- Get your roof inspected: Perhaps the very first thing you can do would be to call Northkit roofing and have us come down to inspect your roof. We will always fit you into our schedules for the earliest possible slot, as it is imperative that we assess the damage, this way we know exactly what we’re up against repair or replacement-wise. We do a very in-depth inspection, hitting all of the common inspection areas and, with your permission even some that other roofers sometimes won’t inspect, such as your attic. This allows us to give you the most in-depth inspection on the market. On top of that, we also perform all of our inspections for 100% free of charge, as it is mutually beneficial. We get to help you out a little, and you get to save a little extra money.
- Have your gutters cleaned: Having your gutters cleaned is a major part of roof maintenance, though an often overlooked one as well. Your gutters are responsible for properly draining any rainwater that runs off your roof away from the foundation of your home. If your gutters are not performing properly, this could mean major structural damage to your home… yikes! That is why it is imperative to have them checked frequently and by professionals.
- Have your roof cleared of snow frequently: If you have a local company that offers the service, you should always have your roof cleared if any and all snow after a large storm. All it takes is a slightly structurally compromised roof and a couple of inches of snow to create a big problem. All of this snow piles up, especially if it is wet, dense snow. It is all extremely heavy, more so than you would think, and it can cause part of or even the entirety of your roof to collapse and cave in! So again, if you have the service available to you, make sure you take advantage of the offer!
- Get the issues fixed ASAP: It should go without saying, but acting immediately when we find something wrong with your roof after our inspection is critical! It is said that in emergency situations, the biggest factor that we have control over that will influence the outcome is response time. The faster we act, the less damage there is in the long run and vice versa.
See You Soon!
Hopefully, this blog has been helpful for your damaged roof, and that you will now be better prepared for the upcoming winter months at both assessing possible storm damage, and taking the proper steps to address it after. We hope you choose Northkit Roofing as your go-to roofer, and look forward to seeing you soon, even if just for a free roof inspection.
