Telltale Signs Your Roof is Leaking, Part 2

Austin Hays at Pritchett Brothers Roofing had plenty of sound expertise and advice concerning roof leaks. Here’s Part 2 of his insights.

What Causes Roofs to Deteriorate?

“Roof deterioration can be attributed to 3 things most commonly: UV exposure, Storm damage, and Ventilation.

- UV exposure is natural and accounted for when determining the life expectancy of the shingle. The sun is hard on everything, and roofs are no exception.

- The second is Storm Damage and this is a random "Act of God" that can deteriorate your roof to the point of replacement in a matter of hours. It is extremely important that Homeowners are diligent when picking their homeowners insurance. I see it too often that a new roof is not fully covered because the Homeowner went cheap on coverage and therefore must make a significant out-of-pocket contribution towards fixing the damage.

- The last and most preventable is ventilation. A roof should have one square foot of ventilation per 300 square foot of ceiling space. If your roof seems to age faster than your neighbors, then your ventilation needs to be addressed. A good rule of thumb is the snow trick. We live in the Midwest and commonly get big snowstorms that may sit on the roof for days. If you look at your roof and you see large spots of shingles in the middle of the snow you have "hot spots", and this is where hot air is leaching out of your home and warming the roof. This is a clear indication that your home is not properly insulated, and your roof is not properly ventilated. Your attic space should always be close to the same temperature as it is outside.”

What Are the Best Tips to Extend Roof Life Overall?

“A yearly roof inspection by a qualified and trusted contractor is the best way to find potential problems and fix them before they become major issues. The contractor can provide insight on the remaining useful life, as well as give pricing updates so you are better prepared financially should the time arise to replace the roof. The contractor should be certified with one of the bigger shingle manufacturers (CertainTeed, GAF, Malarkey). Those manufacturers don't just give certifications to everyone, and the contractor would have had to display a level of acumen to earn it. I also always recommend doing your own research.”

To learn more about how this affects your family and home please call us at 812-327-1127 for a free estimate today!