Your roof is designed from the ground up to take the punishment of the elements, but that doesn’t make it invulnerable. Whether it be from extreme weather, physical damage, or just old age, your roof is going to wear down eventually. And if left unchecked, this can result in anything from leaks to outright collapse. So, if you feel like you might need roof repair in St. Augustine but you’re not entirely sure, here are the telltale signs that your roof needs immediate treatment.
#1. The age of your roof
The average lifespan of a typical roof, without taking into account any preventative maintenance done on the shingles of framing to increase its lifespan, is 15-20 years. Take into account that preventative maintenance adds to that life, depending on how vigilant you are in said maintenance. Regardless of the steps you take, however, time has a way of winning out in the end. Look through your home inspection report to find the age of your roof. If it’s nearing its 80’s or even just its 60’s, then repair work may be in order.
#2. The result of inspections
Many are wary of bureaucratic types the term “inspector” is associated with, but building inspectors generally know what they’re doing and should be heeded when they say something is wrong. The NRCA (National Roofers Contractor Association) recommends bi-annual spot checks for your roof, with any extra ones being made after severe weather events like a hurricane. These are meant to be done yourself, with professional inspections taking place every 3 years. In either case, if you see anything wrong when performing this inspection, or if your inspector details something wrong with your roof, make an immediate note of it and research what can be done to repair it.
#3. The presence of dark streaks
These aren’t much more than dirty stains on your roof. They’re created by airborne algae that gathers on your rooftop over time. While not too harmful for the roof, they are immediately noticeable and ugly aesthetically. Thankfully, they’re relatively easy to get out with a mix of bleach and water.
#4. It’s leaking
This one is fairly obvious… If your roof is leaking, you want to get it fixed! While this can be done yourself, you should still have a professional come by and assess it, to check and see if the crack that caused this leak has spread out to potentially cause leaks elsewhere. Once you know how serious the leak damage is, you can then move on to repairing them.
