A home’s roof can get damaged for various reasons. It may be the result of improper installation or poor maintenance. Roofs also get damaged by the elements, excessive heat, rapid and extreme temperature changes, the weight of snow, and wind or storm damage. But regardless of its cause, most roof damage is hardly detected until it becomes an expensive problem.
This happens because the roof is not always visible; usually, only the structure’s edges are seen. To view the roof properly, homeowners often have to go to the other side of the street or climb up to the roof.
Additionally, as Taylor Street Management in Phoenix explains, many owners assume that their roof is sturdy enough to withstand any abuse from the elements and do not take the necessary steps to protect it. This is why most roof damage is only detected at an advanced stage. One of the indicators that a home’s roof is badly damaged is when signs of roof damage begin to appear in the home’s interior.
The moment evidence of roof damage begins to unfold inside the house’s four walls, you may be sure that the roof is in serious trouble. If the signs are not heeded, and the roof repaired immediately, the problem will advance beyond the roof structure. Eventually, the walls, ceilings, and even foundations of the property will require very costly repairs.
But you can stop a budding-roof problem from going forward if you know how to spot the interior signs of roof damage. If you suspect your roof has a problem and think it is beginning to affect your home’s interior, you can be sure by looking out for these signs of interior roof damage.
Roofs leaks
A leaking roof does not always manifest as water cascading from the home’s ceiling. Sometimes the leak is subtle and unnoticed, or when it is detected, it is not immediately connected to a leak in the roof.
Roof leaks can show up as drywalls or insulation materials that are soaked in water or mold and mildew in the attic. It can also manifest in more obvious ways as water dripping from the ceiling. Or even if the drip is not evident, the leak can reveal itself as water pooling in specific areas of the home.
Water pooling is particularly tricky because it usually does not occur directly under the leaking spot. Instead, the water may travel along a truss or rafter until it reaches a sidewall before flowing down. As a result, the roof leak will often be mistaken for a window leak.
Increased energy cost
Because the roof plays a critical role in the home’s energy efficiency, any damage to the structure will result in significant increases to its energy bill. This is because the house loses much of its insulative properties and allows cooled or warm air to escape, causing the HVAC system to work harder.
Also, a roof that is damaged is not very effective at blocking the sun; much of it is transferred to the property. So, if the home’s energy bill has risen for no apparent reasons, the cause might be a damaged roof.
Stained or sagging ceiling
This is an unmistakable sign of a leaking roof. The problem is usually seen in the attic or top-floor ceiling. It first manifests as blisters in the ceiling paint, before it advances to darkened ceiling paint concentrated around a marked area.
Eventually, the ceiling deteriorates to the point where it begins to sag or bulge downwards. If the issue is not quickly dealt with, the leak will damage electrical fixtures, wallpapers, and wall plaster or sheetrock. If a home has acoustical ceiling tiles installed, the leak can manifest as yellowed or sagging tiles.
Mold and mildew growth
Mold is almost inseparable from any type of water leak in the home. But with roof leaks, the mold will often grow in spaces like the attic, ceiling tiles, inside the walls, HVAC systems, and wood framing. And where mold grows, mildew will also find the right conditions to thrive.
Together, these fungal growths will not only damage the structures and systems of the home, but they will also impact the health of people in the house. An easy way of detecting mold is through a musty odor, often detectable in areas exposed to water from a leaking roof.
Sunlight visible from the attic
If it is possible to see the sun’s light through the attic ceiling, the roof is damaged. And it does not have to be awash in light for this to be the case. Sometimes, it may be a slim pencil of light piercing into the attic.
As a matter of fact, the phenomenon may even be easy to overlook. But if light penetrates into the attic from the ceiling, it proves that the roof is cracked or has a hole.
In conclusion, if your home’s interior shows two or three of these signs, you have a strong reason to suspect that your home’s roof is damaged. The next step should be to get an expert from RENCO Roofing to inspect the roof and its internal structures.
