The Importance of a Good Roof

Jun 15

08:09

2011

Ace Abbey

Your house is more than just where you live, it’s your home, and it’s where you plan to raise your kids, have family celebrations and take shelter from the world. But without a roof to anchor it all, your home wouldn’t last long enough for you to do any of those things. You don’t have to look very far to see how a home can rapidly start to disintegrate once the roof begins to have problems. A leaky roof can let water and moisture in without you even being aware of it. And before you know it a missing shingle here or there on the roof has let water work its way into your attic, down the walls and into the flooring of your home.

Not only can you be looking at damage to the structure of your home itself but you can also be looking at the very real possibility that mold and fungus have gained a foot hold in your home. Once black mold gets into a home you can’t just kill it with bleach and repaint either. Many homeowners are forced to have their homes condemned and torn down once black mold gets in because it is so toxic and almost impossible to get rid of without spending the bank to do it.

If you’re a home owner you probably already know the importance of home maintenance including having your roof inspected for any suspected roof damage immediately. Damage can occur from storms or age or a combination of both of these factors and nipping that damage in the bud can save you money in the short run and save your home in the long run.

The first thing you will need to do if you suspect you have damage or discover a leak is have a licensed roofing contractor inspect your roof. A good roofing contractor will climb up on the roof and not just try to assess the damage from the ground. This is a major red flag if your contractor feels they can inspect your roof without getting on top of your roof.

If your roofing contractor does discover water damage or signs of damage on the roof you will need to have a general contractor take a look at the attic and the inside of your home to do a home assessment. Your contractor can start by talking to your roofing contractor about where the roof is showing damage. Your contractor may also find damage well away from the roof damage because water can wick down in odd places and may not localize itself to where the initial damage occurred.

Your roofing contractor can help advise you about your options which will probably include either replacing the whole roof or doing a patch job. If the roof is old or in poor shape you may save money in the long run by having the roof replaced instead of patched. It’s a lot of money to put our initially but in the end you will save money by knowing you have a roof over your head that will protect your home for the long run and not just until the next big rain storm.

Article "tagged" as: