Roof Maintenance 101: Three Things That Can Go Wrong

Every structural component of your home plays an important role, but in more ways than one, it’s your roof that’s holding everything together. From blocking intense weather to keeping the place warm, a well-functioning roof is an essential piece of infrastructure for any house, and it’s something that deserves your attention. 

Unfortunately, given that the roof is way up there and out of sight, you likely don’t think about it much. It’s an out-of-sight, out of mind sort of feature. This is a problem. 

Given that you can’t see what’s going on, it’s easy for small issues to grow bigger until they become a major disaster. To help arm you with the knowledge you need to prevent any roof-related mishaps, this article will cover three things that can go wrong.

Water Damage

One of the most common problems that can occur on your roof is water damage. Materials degrade over time, and when it rains, it’s then easy for water to seep into the attic. Water can also infiltrate the walls, especially if the gutters are blocked, and start to damage the foundations. 

Cracks and broken tiles are the main culprits to consider if this happens to you, and you can also experience water-related issues due to worn sealants. 

It’s good practice to have your roof professionally inspected if you expeirnece a particularly bad storm. 

Clogged Gutters

Gutters were mentioned above, but they really deserve their own section. 

It’s very easy for gutters to get blocked with leaves if you have overhanging trees, and you can also get rubble and soil build up there due to wind and birds displacing it. 

When water backs up in this way, it can start to degrade your walls up by the roof, and if there are blockages down at the foundations, it’s common for water to well up near the perimeter of the building. 

Damaged and Degraded Shingles

Shingles are critically important when it comes to protecting your roof against the elements, and given that they’re the most exposed layer, if you have degradation problems, it usually starts here. 

They can warp and crack over time and even fall off completely, exposing the more delicate materials of the roof. This can then lead to more extensive damage. Again, a quick look over provides peace of mind that everything’s in order, but sometimes, you can see missing or damaged shingles from the ground level. 

Wrapping Up

Hopefully, you now feel a little clearer about the most common issues that could affect your roof. As is the case with most home maintenance matters, catching problems early is the best line of defense. Providing you’re vigilant with checking that everything is in working order, it’s much less likely you’ll experience any major disasters. 

If you do need repair work conducted on your roof, it’s essential to call an experienced contractor to do the job (you don’t want to be going up there yourself). Someone with a wealth of experience with many different types of roofs is a must. Supreme Contracting roof repair is the sort of service you should be considering. 


Discover more from Rural Mom

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

by
Barb Webb. Founder and Editor of Rural Mom, is an the author of "Getting Laid" and "Getting Baked". A sustainable living expert nesting in Appalachian Kentucky, when she’s not chasing chickens around the farm or engaging in mock Jedi battles, she’s making tea and writing about country living and artisan culture.
Innovative Approaches to Managing Treatment-Resistant Depression