Roof Problems

Start with what you can see

Most roof problems announce themselves long before they become expensive. The trick is knowing which signs are cosmetic, which are a countdown, and which mean water is getting in right now. Pick the symptom that matches what you are seeing.

Act today

• Daylight visible through the roof deck, if rain is forecast
• A ceiling that is sagging or bulging with water
• Exposed decking after a storm

Document it before you call anyone

• Round marks on shingles: hail damage or blistering?, the most argued-about question on a Texas claim

Get it looked at this month

• A ceiling stain that is damp or growing
• A dip or wave in the roof line
• A musty smell in the attic
• A leak that only shows in heavy rain

Plan for it, but do not panic

• Granules collecting in the gutters
• Shingle edges curling or cupping
• Rows of small bumps across the shingles
• Straight splits or cracks in shingles
• Flattened or damp attic insulation

Usually cosmetic

• Black streaks running down the slope
• Popping and cracking noises