A house is a huge investment and a huge responsibility.

From keeping the basement dry to replacing drafty windows, there are plenty of problems for homeowners to solve.  Address one issue, and another appears in no time.  As you keep up with your house’s needs, one part is going to wrangle with elements the most: your roof.

External Roofing Problems

When shingles and frames begin to decay or loosen, your roof’s appearance might tempt you toward a cosmetic fix.  As popular a solution as a second layer might be, two options present distinct cocktails of pros and cons.  Before making your current roof layer inaccessible, consider the following.

Problems with a Metal Roof over Shingles

Once you add a metal layer to your roof, fixing problems underneath will be much harder in the future. You may not notice a rotting roof deck until the ceiling starts to decay.  Leaks will become more difficult to track, and you won’t be able to replace outdated parts.

A metal roof also adds plenty of weight to your home, putting more stress on your current roof.  With all this extra weight, your home will be more sensitive to rotting.  Your decking will take a lot less damage before yielding to something as devastating as a cave-in. If you’re about to pull the trigger on a metal roof, we respect your decision, but address any existing problems first.

A moldy roof is neither good for curb appeal nor structural integrity.

Problems with Two Layers of Shingles

Putting on another layer of shingles is a fast, cheap, and subtle way to fix minor roof damage. However, it has some problems that make it less effective. As with a metal roof, an extra layer of shingles makes internal problems harder to manage, especially leaks.  While it may not be metal, the weight an extra layer puts on your home also makes the decking more susceptible to mold.

Also, two layers of shingles trap more heat during the summer, causing each shingle to age more rapidly.  Heat can be even more detrimental to inner roofs whose shingles have already warped.  Again, don’t move forward with another layer until you’ve resolved problems with your current roof.

Damaged Flashing Packs a Punch

Flashing is a series of plastic or metal strips that protect your roof’s inner creases.  Its structural integrity is vital to the long-term health of skylights, chimneys and ventilation pipes.  As soon as flashing cracks or loosens, moisture begins its invasion, so don’t let old flashing fall by the wayside.

Primary Roofing Problems

If you don’t plan to reinforce your roof with extra layers, other problems may persist.  Luckily, you may be able to address if not prevent them yourself.  Here are some common problems whose solutions might allow the handy homeowner to pick up a contractor’s slack.

Water Can Damage Your Roof

“My roof is triangular!” You’re not out of the woods yet: If your gutters are clogged or damaged, debris has no way off your roof.  This debris can trap moisture and cause pooling, making the perfect environment for mold to thrive. No matter if your roof is flat or triangular, contractors can help with gutter replacements and making tapered areas. However, clearing gutters yourself is a good first step.

Nail Pops Destroy Your Roof

There may not be as many shingles on your roof as there are trees in the Amazon, but you wouldn’t want to count them.  Nailing each shingle individually, the best roofers can make mistakes, so don’t even think about tackling this yourself.  Installing shingles requires long nails with thick heads.  Not only do these nails need to endure the odd storm, but they must also seal moisture out of each shingle.

When moisture seeps into the roof, the decking expands and pushes the nails upward.  These nails might be small, but they have important jobs, and nail pops become dangerous by snowballing into worse problems.  A lost shingle can cause leaks, inviting more than enough moisture to start a mold colony among vital structures.

Be Wary of Frosty Weather

The winter is your roof’s most formidable enemy.  Freezing temperatures do not help mold grow. However, they can cause water to freeze into ice. This ice can work with your home’s heat to create ice dams. During winter, check much more meticulously for cracks in flashing among other types of visible damage.

Ice dams can be a real menace, trapping water and adding weight.

Internal Roofing Problems

Not all adversaries attack from the outside.  In fact, many might be intrinsic problems with your house.  Let’s discuss a few issues you might be able to address from the inside.

Shingles Can Curl Early

A shingle curls near the end of its lifespan, requiring an entire replacement.  If you have this issue with new shingles, there’s a problem with your ventilation system.  Because the structure of your roof is so sensitive to temperature changes, a ventilation system needs to let your house breathe. There might not be a clear leak, but something is stopping your ventilation system from working well. Contractors like us can help you find the issue.

Problems with Synthetic Roof Underlayment

Synthetic roof underlayment is necessary insofar as it protects your roof.  It excels at sealing out moisture, absorbing noise from rain and insulating your home from annoying drafts.  It’s so effective that it might help you keep an expiring warranty. However, it does have some logistical problems. It costs more than a felt underlayment. Some building codes do not allow it. Many vendors focus on the thickness of the underlayment, but weight is more important.

Critters Abound

If you live in a rural area, be vigilant against birds and bugs.  A single nest can encourage pooling on your roof or trap smoke in your chimney.  Dangerous byproducts, like carbon monoxide, may not be able to leave your home.  Exposure to these gases can be fatal, so don’t let critters live rent-free.

Let Us Help You Resolve Your Roofing Problems

Maintaining the place where you spend the most time can be exhausting, but it’s important.  In particular, your roof will have to endure more than its fair share of damage.  Whether you’re having an issue with your roof or something else, we take pride in serving customers across Chicagoland.  If you need help fixing or maintaining your roof, please call us at 844-736-6961 or visit us at renownedbuildingsolutions.com.