Seemingly small and simple roofing problems often present as much danger to a building as issues that look big. The small stuff can get out of hand quickly, and that's why it's important to have a roofing service deal with the situation. In these 5 scenarios, you'll want to get on top of things as soon as possible.
1. Rusty Nails
Yes, roofing contractors are sometimes asked to address something as small as a nail. Rusty nails can deteriorate quickly, especially in regions where the salt content in the air is high. Once the nail is destroyed, water has a direct path into the underlying wooden structures that support the roof. The solution is often as simple as removing the nails, putting in new ones and putting a bit of roofing cement over them.
2. Nesting Birds
Birds can seem innocent enough, but seeing even one nesting in your house is bad news. They especially like the areas where roofs hang over the outside walls, and they can start working there way into the structure from there. Frequently, there are also more birds that people realize nesting in a space. The solution is to button everything up around the soffit and fascia or to block entry to the hole with wire mesh.
3. Missing Shingles
Shingles can tear off in a wide range of weather conditions, especially when there is high wind. At first blush, it might not seem like a big deal, particularly if the roofing felt appears to be holding up. Damaged or lost shingles, though, should be replaced by roofers as soon as the weather permits.
4. Crumbling Roofing Cement
Roofing cement is used all over a structure. It is employed to seal the seams around things like chimneys and skylights. You'll also see it utilized to seal the edge of the roof or to keep shingles in place. Over time, roofing cement can break down, and it often crumbles. You'll also likely see that it turns an ashen color. The cement has to be cleaned out from the affected area. Roofers will then apply new cement to clean up the seams and edges.
5. Moss and Mold
Especially in wet climates, it's not unusual to see moss or mold developing on a roof. It is, however, always a bad sign. Generally, the sun should burn off any snow or rain that's on a roof once the temperature gets about 40 degrees F. If moss or mold has had the time to grow on the roofing materials, that means the water isn't leaving.
When you develop a roof leak, you don't have time to ignore it. Issues with leaks can cause problems as simple as incoming water and as wide-ranging as mold accumulation inside your home, which is why you should never let an issue sit. However, if you aren't careful, you could develop problems with roofing that is simply open to the elements, allowing rain and snow to enter your home, melt, and contribute to problems like mold growth. On this blog, you can learn more about the kinds of roofing issues that you could be faced with, and what to do about them.