When the roof of your property starts to have problems, it always leaves telltale signs that you can pick up on and take appropriate action. But the problem is these signs do not always appear where you expect them to. Homeowners expect that when a roof has issues, the evidence for such a problem should be seen on the roof itself.
But this is not always the case. Because the roof sits on top of the building, problems with it are more likely to show in the structures below than on the roof where the problem actually originated. This is why sometimes when your roof starts to malfunction the best place to look for signs of the problem is in the interior of the building.
Yet, these interior signs of roof damage are not always easy to connect to the roof. This is because the problems may present in ways that lead homeowners to mistake them for an entirely different kind of damage, explains APMUtah.com. The result is that the roof problems are often only discovered after they become full-blown issues.
But if you follow the interior signs of roof damage as we explain below, you will be able to catch roofing problems early and take care of them before they become major costs.
What are the signs homeowners should look out for inside their home to know when their roof is in trouble?
Doors and windows that stick
This problem is usually associated with another type of structural damage; foundation failure. But doors and windows can also get sticky as a result of roof damage. This happens because as the roof weakens from leaks and damage, it sags and starts to lean its weight on the structures below it. The consequence is that doors and windows are pushed lower and become harder to close or open.
Blistering and discolored paint
Worn and damaged paint of all sorts can be the result of roof damage. When the paint on a ceiling starts to wear out, homeowners may assume the paint is old and the home needs to be repainted. But bubbly, discolored, and fading paint can happen as water seeps into ceilings and other areas of the home, causing the paint to deteriorate. If the paint is wearing out, it is important to inspect the roof before repainting the home.
Stained walls and ceilings
Most homeowners know that yellowish, brown, or orange stains inside the home are signs of water damage. Water damage can come from leaking pipes inside the walls or leaks in the roof above the home. But if these stains happen in areas of the home which are poorly lit or hidden by other features, they can be hard to spot. Moreover, the presence of stains on a wall or a part of the ceiling does not mean that the source of the water is directly above the area.
Water pooling on floors
Water pooling is another problem that does not always leave a clear indication of the water source. This is because water can run along the internal structures of the roof, inside walls, and over the floor before finally pooling somewhere inside the home.
As a result, pooling may not occur directly beneath the area of the roof that is leaking. Furthermore, if the pooling occurs near a window, it is easy to assume that the water is coming in through the window.
Leakage and water seepage
Because of the rafters and ceiling, leaks in the roof rarely lead to water falling directly into the rooms below the leaking areas. The one exception to this is the attic. A leak in the roof above the attic will lead to water seeping into the room. But if the attic is hardly visited, the problem may not be discovered. Moreover, if the room is used for storage, the items in the space might make it hard to spot the problem.
Light in the attic
Another way that attics reveal the presence of problems with a roof is when sunlight is visible through the roof of the attic. This is particularly true for attics that are poorly lit. The moment slivers of sunlight can pierce the darkness of the room, it means there is a hole in the roof over the room. If this area is leaking, the probability that there will leaks in other parts of the roof is high.
Higher energy bills
When the energy bill for the home starts to rise inexplicably, it could be an indication that the roof is not doing a good job of regulating the home’s internal climate. Roofs work with the home’s insulation and HVAC systems to keep the building’s internal temperature at a certain level. But when a roof is damaged, it cannot carry out this function effectively. Rather than seal the home, it will let cooled and warmed air leak out of the building. This stresses the HVAC systems and increases their energy usage.