Your roof protects your home, and when it is damaged, it becomes less structurally sound. While a high-quality asphalt shingle roof can last up to 30 years with proper maintenance, there are many things that can reduce its lifespan or cause wear and tear: extreme heat or cold, high winds, heavy storms, animal damage, water damage, mold and mildew, damage from tree branches, and more.
A damaged asphalt shingle roof can cause your energy bills to increase, allow heat and cold in your home, let pests in, and reduce your home’s indoor air quality. But deciding to repair roof damage can be a balancing act. Are you ready to make the investment in a new roof or extensive roof repairs, or do you think your roof can last another season? Here are some of the telltale warning signs that your asphalt shingle roof is damaged and needs immediate repair.
Increased Humidity or Condensation
A roof leak will increase the level of humidity in your home, particularly in your attic or on your top floor. You may also notice condensation on your walls and windows and a musty or moldy odor. Over time, increased humidity and condensation can cause structural issues with your home and damage your furniture and belongings. And without roof repairs, a roof leak will only get worse and more expensive.
Water Leaks or Water Damage
Your roof should keep your home (and everything in it) dry and protected. When your roof has a leak, even a minor one, you will notice signs of water damage in your attic or elsewhere in your home:
- Water stains on the ceilings and walls
- Rotten or warped wood
- Rusted or corroded metal
- A musty or moldy smell
- Signs of mold and mildew
- Bubbling, blistering, or peeling paint or plaster
Poor Indoor Air Quality
Your roof insulates and protects your home, but it is also a key element of your home’s ventilation system. When your roof is damaged and outside air can get in, your home’s indoor air quality will diminish. You and your family will be exposed to more pollutants, toxins, allergens, and contaminants. You might notice your allergy symptoms are getting worse or that you are developing respiratory issues.
Increased Energy Bills
Asphalt roof damage can lead to higher energy bills. Roof damage can affect your home’s ventilation and insulation and allow heat and cold into your home. Your home’s heating and cooling system will have to work twice as hard to get your home to a comfortable temperature, and your energy bills will start rising.
Pests and Insects in Your Home
Do you hear scratching in your attic? Have you found animal droppings, or do you smell a musty odor? Are there more gnats, mosquitos, flies, or other bugs in your home? When you have a sudden increase of pests and insects in your home, it could mean they have a new way to enter your home or that something in your home is attracting them. Holes in your roof, damaged insulation, and water leaks all attract pests and encourage them to stay—causing more damage to your home in the process.
Mold or Mildew Growth
When water consistently pools on your roof or leaks from your roof into your home, you will develop a mold or mildew problem. Mold can cause health issues, particularly respiratory problems and worsening of allergies and asthma. Mildew can damage underlying structures and make them less sound.
Sagging Ceilings or Buckling Walls
After a long period of water damage from a roof leak and exposure to the weather, your ceilings may start sagging and your walls may start buckling. Foundation problems caused by water damage can also cause your walls to crack or cause door and window frames to start separating from the walls.
Signs of Exterior Damage to Your Home
Most people are very familiar with the exterior signs of roof damage that indicate they need roof repairs. When your asphalt roof shingles are damaged by weather, extreme temperature, or animals, you will notice:
- Dark streaks on your roof and/or siding
- Peeling, cracking, or blistering siding
- A sagging roof
- Damaged or broken gutters
- Cracked, chipped, loose, or missing shingles
- Missing granules or granules in your downspouts or gutter drains
- Curling shingles
Surprising Signs of Asphalt Shingle Damage
In addition to the appearance of your roof and the warning signs you might notice in your home, there are other surprising signs that it’s time to hire a roofing contractor for roof repairs. You should consider getting new asphalt roofing shingles if:
- Your roof is over 25 years old.
- Your have been hit by several heavy storms over the past six months.
- You have noticed signs of animal nests or animal droppings around your home.
- You have trees that overhang your roof.
- You haven’t had a roofing inspection in 10 years or more.
- You plan on selling your home in the next five years.
Call Badger Contracting for Fast, Honest Roof Repairs
If you have noticed any of these signs of damaged asphalt roof shingles in Baltimore County, you should call an experienced roofing contractor right away. At Badger Contracting, we pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity, and transparency. We offer comprehensive roofing inspections to assess any damage to your asphalt shingles, and we will never try to convince you to pay for roof repairs you don’t need.
Our free, onsite roof inspections are tailored to your needs and designed to identify cost-effective solutions. We are GAF-certified and a preferred contractor for durable GAF roofing shingles. In addition to roof repairs, we are also experts in roof replacement, new roof installation, and window and siding services in Annapolis, Baltimore, Columbia, MD and beyond. Call us today or fill out our online contact form to ask questions or get started on your financing application online.