Roof failure is one of the leading causes of damage to homes. This is why we recommend keeping your roof in good shape so water, mold, fungus and fire do not damage your home. Here are the problems you should look for if you are worried about your roof.

• Asphalt: The main things that we look for when deciding if an asphalt roof needs replacement are De-lamination, loss of granules, torn shingles, and blown off shingles.

1. De-lamination: If you notice that the base of your shingles are flapping up or your asphalt roof is making a lot of noise there is a good chance they have delaminated. This can happen for many reasons such as age, strong wind and improper installation.

   
   

2. Loss of granules: The Granules in asphalt roofing are key to keeping the shingles strong, pliable and water resistant. A few ways to know if the granules have worn off are inconsistent color, shingles have a smooth appearance, or your roof is staying saturated for long periods of time.

   
   

3. Torn and blown off shingles: This typically means the shingles have dry rotted and torn off of the nails. occasionally this can be caused by improper installation. This could be caused by lack of nails or improper installation during winter.

• Cedar roofs: Cedar roofs are somewhat susceptible to damage this is why we do not recommend them unless you are willing to perform periodic maintenance. Damage is typically caused by splitting, rot and sun damage. With maintenance and proper installation this can be avoided and provide a long lasting roof.

1. Splitting: Splitting is caused by the shingles drying out and moving over time. This can be remedied by installing an air spacing membrane before installation to help cope with temperature and humidity changes.

   
   

2. Rot: Rot is common on cedar shingles over time typically due to improper installation and improper maintenance . Cedar shakes require oiling periodically to keep the natural oils in the wood that protect it from damage, failure to due so normally results in rot and warping. An air spacing barrier will help to maintain consistent temp and humidity on the roof, preventing excessive rot.

   
   

3. Sun Damage: Sun damage occurs when the oils in cedar disappear and dry out. Causing them to warp and crack. This can be avoided by periodic oiling.

• Metal roofing: Metal roofs are very durable and need little to no maintenance. Failures are normally caused by excessive snow load, improper installation, rust, screw failure or rotten roof sheathing.

1. Excessive snow load: Ice damming and excessive snow load can causes your roof to move unnaturally. This can cause cracks and movement that allow water to seep in and causes leaks.

2. screw failure: If you notice lots of screw heads popped up and not installed flush there is a good chance the wrong size screw was used during installation. This can be remedied by replacing the previous screws with a more coarse thread screw.

   
   

3. Rotten roof sheathing: If you notice that your roof has areas that are sagging or your attic has heavily discolored sheathing. This could be a sign of rotten roof sheathing. This would usually require sheathing replacement, roof replacement and possibly rafter replacement depending on the amount of rot.