Having a bad roof hurts more than the looks of the home, and you may face several costly problems if you wait too long to replace it. Dangers that can happen if you wait too long include an invitation to pests, creating a fire hazard, reduced energy efficiency, and even total roof collapse during a storm. Don’t wait too long. Let’s look at five signs that you need to replace the roof on your Delaware home.
Sign #1: Standing Water on the Roof
Ongoing stagnant water on the roof that lasts over 48 hours requires roof replacement before it starts to rot the roof and mold forms. A roof with standing water indicates that it has lost its pitch, which can cause the wind to lift the shingles and drive water underneath.
Flat roofs especially suffer from the issue of standing water, and they last anywhere from 15 to 20 years compared to 25 to 50 years. This issue stems from a less effective drainage system.
The other issue with standing water on your roof? It will attract pests like squirrels, wasps, mice, and birds in search of a drink. They may turn your roof into their new home and further damage the roof. The same issue applies if your roof loses its pitch and suffers from sunken points, which shows you have an issue with rot that you need to address immediately.
Sign #2: Sealant and Seams Cracking
Once the sealant cracks or deteriorates, water can penetrate into the home and start to cause problems. Especially check the sealant around pipe collars because this area weakens faster than others. The sun can lead it to wear out sooner than expected. On average, most roofing companies in Delaware recommend that you seal your roof every five to six years to ensure that it lasts as long as possible. You can call RGB Construction to assist with this and save yourself from the hazards of going up on the roof.
Sign #3: Mold and Moss Growth
Mold, moss, and mildew happen because of the overhanging trees from above that often spring up in cases with lots of rain or humidity. Especially watch out for this issue during the spring and summer seasons.
In some cases, if you address it right away you won’t need to worry about roof replacement, but if you fail to respond right away, it will rot the roof. Moss and mold pose more than an issue as a health hazard. In large quantities, it penetrates the roofing materials as it attaches to them.
It interferes with drainage and can hold in the water and make your roof rot prematurely. If you catch it right away, it won’t pose too much trouble. Over time, the moss grows even from a small patch into an issue that will require roof replacement.
Beware of what appears as dead moss because some dried-out moss can live for months. It takes one heavy rainfall for it to start growing again. Once the moss dries out, hire RGB Construction, the best roofing company in Delaware to remove the dried-out moss.
Never grab the pressure washer and pressure wash the moss on your roof because this can damage the shingles and create leaks that would require total replacement.
Sign #4: Many Leaks and Stains in the Home
You need a total roof replacement in cases where your home leaks in multiple rooms. You want to replace the roof as soon as possible to protect your home from further rot and damage to the interior. Leaks to the roof can lead to costly damages because it requires repairs to the roofing, the ceiling, the flooring, the insulation, and the electrical components.
Let’s say that the water damage rusted your metal service panel. You will need to replace that as well out of safety concerns. The water can corrode the connectors between and produce a heat dangerous enough to spark a fire.
To give you an idea of the costs, insulation alone will run you $350 to $1,000 for six hours of work. You will pay $1,300 to $3,000 to replace an electric panel. All of this is on top of the $8,000 cost to replace the roof.
If you see tons of water damage to the interior, you can likely trace the problem back to a leaky roof.
Sign #5: Damage to the Chimneys or Skylights
Damaged chimneys pose a risk of fire hazard, but they can attract moisture that can further harm your roof. Don’t let this go unchecked because the poor ventilation has led to carbon monoxide poisoning. The biggest cases where you will need to replace the entire roof come from situations where a section of the chimney breaks off. In those cases, it often damages a large part of the roof.
Conclusion
At RGB Construction, we would love to assist you with a roof replacement. We can send out technicians to look at if you need a full replacement or whether a minor repair would fit the circumstances. If you’d like to learn more, please give us a call at 856-264-9093. We have the expertise to repair your roof so that it continues to protect you and your family from the elements and keeps the water from getting in.
We are also a veteran-owned business committed to quality craftsmanship and the highest standards of integrity.
