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Diagnosing Damage To An Asphalt-Shingle Roof

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If you are looking for a roofing material that will keep your initial costs low, you should definitely consider installing an asphalt-shingle roof on your home. Asphalt shingles are the least expensive roofing material in terms of initial cost. While they come with a small cost, they are not as durable as other options such as metal roofing; thus, when you buy an asphalt-shingle roof, you need to be ready to inspect your roof regularly for weather damage. Catching a leak early is the best way to avoid water damage inside your home. 

The Risks of Water Damage

You will not always know when you have a leak in your roof. When you have a large leak, you might see a torrent of water pouring through your ceiling or running down a wall. Such a leak can soak your home, and if you don't dry up the water quickly, it can damage the drywall and other materials. On the other hand, if you have a small leak, it might never penetrate your ceiling. Even if you don't see leaks inside your home, a roof leak can cause your roof struts to rot or lead to mold infestations. 

Signs of Hail Damage

Knowing how to spot a potential leak before it has a chance to develop into a full-blown problem is the best way to avoid costly repairs. A hailstone or the impact of a falling limb can damage roofing shingles in a couple of ways:

  1. Falling objects can scrape the protective granules off of roofing shingles. Once these granules are gone, the UV rays of the sun can dry out the underlying asphalt and cause it to crack. 
  2. An impact can rip the asphalt and felt paper that make up a shingle. An impact tear will usually have a bulls-eye-shaped pattern.

Signs of Wind Damage

The most common sign of wind damage is missing shingles. However, even if a wind storm is not strong enough to rip shingles off of your roof, it can still cause problems. Wind can tear shingles along the seams in the shingles, and once these seams tear, water can leak behind the shingle; thus, you need to closely inspect your roof after a windstorm in order to find rips. 

In order to get repairs before your roof has a chance to leak, it is important to know what to look for. You should be able to inspect your roof from the ground with a good pair of binoculars, but sometimes it is necessary to climb up on your roof. If you don't feel comfortable walking on your roof, you can always call in a roofer to inspect your roof for you. 

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