How to Solve the Most Common Roofing Problems

Your roof covers your largest asset — your home. It’s your first line of defense against the earth’s elements, protecting everyone and everything you cherish beneath it. Learn how to spot and solve the most common problems threatening your roof’s longevity and you and your family can enjoy a lifetime of performance, protection, and peace of mind.

It’s easy to neglect the small roofing problems — a small leak can go undetected for years. But it’s just as easy for small problems to upgrade to major issues — the same small leak can cause huge damage before you even notice it. However, monitor and maintain the minor roofing problems today and you can stop the proverbial snowball in its tracks.

Leaky roof

The early signs of leaking emerge on the ceiling or in the corners of the walls — both signaling potentially major interior and exterior damage.

Moisture from rain, snow, and ice can get under the layers. Wind and hail can puncture and penetrate the roof membrane. Even tiny leaks can cause mold or rot.

Moisture can also enter your home through low quality, poorly attached, or improperly installed flashing (the metal material that seals the vent pipes, skylights, chimneys, and heating and cooling systems on your roof). Open seams and laps can cause shingle blow-off or decrease your roof’s puncture resistance.

Nothing plugs more leaks than preventative maintenance. Consult with a pro to repair, reinstall, or replace damaged shingles, sealant or flashing. And schedule a free professional home inspection once or twice a year.

Standing water

Water that ponds or stands on your roof causes a range of roofing problems from debris buildup to improper drainage of HVAC units and gutters. Mosquitos can lay eggs, contaminate the water, and transfer diseases down into your household.

Take a stand against standing water. Check for its major culprit: stuck debris. And remove anything blocking your HVAC system.

 Moss

Shaded homes in cool, moist climates grow moss. Moss retains water and its accumulated weight makes your roof vulnerable.

Rather than spray water — and put a Band-Aid on the roofing problem – hire a pro to solve it for good with a special cleaning solution.

Shrinkage and blistering

The roof membrane — the stuff under the shingles — can shrink and cause problems from cracks or crazing in the upper layer to blistering, ridging, splitting, and shingle surface erosion.

Hire a pro to inspect your roof and shrink the risk of this common roofing problem.

Improper ventilation

Proper roof and attic ventilation — with vents placed at the base of the roof (at the eaves or in the soffits) and near the top of the roof (the ridge) — circulates the air inside your home. Warm air leaves through the top, cool air enters through the bottom, and the system plays an integral role in your roof’s longevity.

Adequate ventilation regulates the temperature and moisture levels in the attic to prevent heat and water build-up. Without it, you risk higher energy costs, damage to rafters, sheathing, shingles, and insulation, and mold or mildew problems.

Help your attic breathe better to ward off a world of roofing problems. Hire a certified contractor to inspect your ventilation system and install a practical solution.

Deteriorated or detached shingles

Extreme weather, faulty workmanship, inferior quality, product age, and neglect all make a roof vulnerable to damaged, raised, or missing shingles — and exposure of the wood underneath to the elements.

Keep your roof in good health with regular maintenance to prevent rot, structural weakness, and other roofing problems. For more serious shingle damage, consider hiring a pro to replace your roof.

Warped or damaged roof soffit

Common roofing problems — from inclement weather to faulty gutters to small animals seeking shelter — all lurk in the underside of your roof’s overhang.

Moisture can penetrate (and eventually rot) the soffit and fascia, attracting all sorts of critters from birds and other small animals to insects.

Replace or repair the soffit with superior materials to resolve warping and other issues. And evict the unwelcomed furry and flying guests threatening to wreak a surprising amount of havoc on your home.

Damaged gutters

A healthy roof hinges on the health of its gutters. Faulty gutters cause water to collect and pool on the edges of the roof, resulting in rot, leaks, and other roofing problems — including damage to the attached fascia (the horizontal piece that defines the edge of the rafters).

Check your gutters a few times in a season to identify and address underlying problems — most of them solved with regular cleaning.

Hire a pro to replace or repair gutters with more serious damage and to remove and replace compromised sections of the fascia.

Trees and limbs

Overhanging tree limbs can rub on a roof, abrade the surface of the shingles, and wear away the protective top layer. Branches can also fall and seriously damage your roof.

Resolve the issue with some landscaping. Trim back tree limbs away from your roof and home. And remove any trees close enough to pose a serious threat to your home.

Poor or faulty installation

A poorly or wrongly installed roof increases the likelihood of problems and decreases its life expectancy — dramatically.

Hire a pro to inspect your roof and correct any corners cut by a lazy contractor.

Lack of maintenance

Every roof’s worst enemy — lack of maintenance — can transform minor problems into serious damage.

A routine inspection and regular care together extend the life of roof and save you a ton of money. Best of all: regular maintenance prevents all the common roofing problems on our list.

Place your biggest asset in our hands.

Need help solving any of the most common roofing problems? Reach out to King Quality today and discover the royal treatment for you and your home.