Homeowners often think of roofing problems as issues that come on quickly. One day, your roof just springs a leak. Or a storm rolls in and blows off three sheets of shingles in one go. These sudden roofing problems are definitely problems — but since they're so hard to miss, they're not really the ones you need to spend time worrying about. You're better off spending your time worrying about the sneaky little roofing issues that announce their arrival with whispers, rather than screams. Here are a few of those sneaky problems.
Granule Loss
Shingles are made with asphalt granules basically glued to their surface. These granules encourage water to drain off the roof effectively. But as the shingles age, sometimes the granules start to fall off. This happens slowly, so it's easy to overlook, but eventually, granule loss will lead to shingle loss and leaks.
You can see the sure signs of granule loss by peeking in your gutters every 6 months or so. If you see granules, which look like large coffee granules, in your gutters, then you know it's time to start thinking about replacing your shingles. You may not need to do it this year, but definitely within the next two or three.
Ice Dams
Ice dams are pretty obvious if you know to look for them, but most people don't know to look for them or know that they are a problem — which makes them sneaky! These are just those big blocks of ice, often paired with large icicles, that form on the edge of the roof in winter.
Ice dams can cause shingles to peel off, which in turn can lead to rotten underlayment and leaks. Look up at your roof every week or so during the winter, and if you see ice dams, be prepared to call a roofing company to come look for and replace peeling shingles.
Loose Flashing
People often assume roof leaks come from damaged or missing shingles, and often they do. But leaks can also be caused by peeling flashing. Peeling flashing, which is the metal around a chimney, can also let leaks sneak in, and this problem often goes overlooked because homeowners are so focused on inspecting their shingles.
If you can see your flashing from the ground, just look up at it now and then and make sure it's intact. If you do start to notice it flapping around or peeling, have a roofer come fix it ASAP.
These roofing problems are sneaky, but if you know what to look for, they won't sneak past you. Contact a roofing company to learn more.