Missing shingles, granules filling the gutters, water stains on the ceiling after rainstorms—they all point to roofing problems. Pay attention to these warning signs and act before the problem gets worse and more expensive to fix.

Paying attention to what your roof is telling you is the first step in catching major problems before they have a chance to hit your wallet, so we’ve put together a list of some of the most common symptoms to keep a look out for when it comes to potential roofing damage and wear and tear.

• WATER SPOTS ON YOUR CEILING:  Water can travel along roof panels or lumber in the attic before dripping onto your insulation and leaving the yellow water spot on your ceiling.  Water spots don’t always mean the roof is leaking.  It could be caused by other things.  But if the spots only appear, darken, or grow after it rains, the roof is likely the culprit.
• WATER SPOTS APPEAR ON EXTERIOR WALLS: The step flashing where the roof meets a wall is loose, rusted, or damaged.  If the damage appears or gets worse after rain, the problem is most likely the flashing.
• THE GUTTERS ARE FILLED WITH GRANULES AND WASH OUT THE DOWNSPOUTS:  The roof shingles are deteriorating or reaching the end of their lifespan.  Granules protect against the sun’s UV rays, so once they’re gone, the shingles can become brittle.
• CRACKING SHINGLES:  The granules have probably worn off, allowing the shingles to become brittle and probably need to be replaced.
• SHINGLES ARE CUPPING:  The attic may not be properly vented, and you might need to reshingle.  When shingles get old and worn out, the ends sometimes start to cup – the corners turn up or the shingles look wavy.  An attic that’s not vented properly can exacerbate this problem.  Cupping shingles can allow wind-blown rain to work its way under the shingles and leak into the house.
• THE ROOF IS MISSING SHINGLES:  You might have a critter getting on your roof, or the sealant strip under the shingles may have been   damaged.  A fury animal scurrying around on the roof could be responsible.  Shingles have a sealant on their underside that helps hold the shingles in place.  If the shingles become old and brittle, the sealant can fail and the shingles can come loose.
• THERE ARE BLACK STAINS ON THE ROOF:  There is algae growing on the shingles.  Although this looks ugly, it doesn’t create other problems with the roof.  It’s really an aesthetic thing.  Placing zinc strips near the ridge of the roof that release a fungicide when it rains can kill the algae.

Unless you have great detective skills when it comes to discovering what your roof is trying to tell you, you’ll want to enlist a roofing contractor to help track down the cause of the problem and help with a solution. Premo Roofing Company prides themselves on being able to locate any problems your roof might have, devise a course of action, and then implement that plan in a timely manner.  Contact us today!