Never underestimate the importance of having a well-maintained roof over your home, as the roof protects the home's framework from water damage and mould growth, and helps to actually support the weight of the home itself. The roof also keeps in your heating and air conditioning, so holes in the roof will mean a cold home in winter and overly warm, stuffy home in summertime and paying more in utility bills every month. Since many homeowners often assume that a roof is fine as long as there aren't leaks inside or visible holes outside, consider a few signs that it's time to call a roofing specialist to your home.
Crooked chimney
The area where a chimney is connected to a roof will be protected with what's called flashing, or a type of thin metal that is bent around that connection, and which helps to direct water away from the chimney and off the roof. If this flashing is damaged, water can build up along the chimney base, causing the brick and mortar to soften and crumble. In turn, the chimney may shift and lean.
This damage to the chimney can mean that water is also collecting on the roof, leading to potential damage. If you notice your home's chimney seems crooked, a roofer should inspect both the chimney and the roof itself for needed repairs.
Seasonal extremes
You may know to arrange an inspection of your home's roof after a strong storm, but some seasonal extremes can also cause damage to a roof. When shingles are exposed to lots of hot, direct sunlight, they can dry out and become brittle, and start to crumble. Heavy snowfall on a roof can allow shingles to absorb more moisture, so that they might soften and weaken, and never dry completely. In turn, mould and algae can form under the shingles. If your area has suffered any such seasonal extremes, call a roofer to inspect the roof for potential damage and needed repairs.
Vegetation caught in roof
If you notice that leaves, twigs and other such vegetation seem to be caught between shingles, it's time to call a roofing specialist. Shingles should lie so flat and be so snug against each other that this vegetation shouldn't have room to get caught in that way. When you notice twigs and other debris caught between shingles, this often means those tiles have curled or somehow come away from their connectors, and they should be repaired or replaced before they actually fall away from the roof.
You don't realise how important your roof is until it fails. Last winter, I noticed that water was leaking through my roof and dripping into my home. I was in a bit of a panic while I searched for a bucket so I could stop the water from flooding my home. I called an emergency roofing service and they were great. The company sent a contractor out straight away and he soon climbed my roof and inspected the damage. After a short while, he climbed back down and explained that the roof needed to be rennovated. Since the work was completed, I haven't had any problems with my roof.