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How to Tell If You Need a Full Roof Replacement, or Just a Roof Repair

Are you having problems with your roof? Even the smallest of problems can cause huge damage to your property and business. To make sure it does not get worse, you need to know how to fix the problem. 

Of course, no one wants to spend more money than they have to and replace the whole roof, though in many cases, it may be necessary. Below, we discuss the signs that you need a roof repair or replacement. 

1. Perform an Interior Check

While most people judge a roof by its exterior, the interior can tell you a whole lot more. Start by getting a flashlight and making your way into the roof cavity, or up to the roof space. Once there, you can spot a number of signs that will tell you if you need repair or replacement. 

Firstly, check for any daylight coming through the beams or tiles. If light can get in, water can probably get in as well. One or two places may just warrant a roof repair, though a bigger area may need a whole roof replacement. 

After this, check the underside of the ceiling. If you have dark stains or streaking from the base of the roof, check its root problem on the attic side. You may find more evidence that moisture is coming in through the roof itself. 

After this, check any area which may have sagging ceilings. The attic may be pooling water, weakening the ceiling itself. Be very careful when doing this, as the ceiling may be ready to give way. 

Once you have done this, assess the level of damage and consult a specialist. They will advise you on the amount commercial roof repair or replacement will cost.

2. Check the Age of the Roof

You may have been in the property a long time and already know the age of the roof. For others, you may have to do some digging in the documentation or make a general guess. However, you should be aware that roof shingle lasts for 15 years at the most. 

Very often, roof repairs are done by overlaying on the existing, older roof. If this has been done, overlaying on overlaying is simply fighting fires. It is time for a full roof replacement. 

3. Ice Dams Form in the Winter

If your commercial property is in higher altitudes with colder winters, ice dams may become a common occurrence. These are huge walls of icicles that form on the edge of a roof. This is generally to do with issues regarding ventilation in your roof. 

As the heat rise in your office or warehouse, it melts snow and ice on the rooftop. This then runs down towards your gutters, where it meets cold air and freezes. This repeats, and slowly ice and snow begin to back up on the roof. 

If this occurs, you may be able to save your roof before the wet and cold reap havoc on your tiles and roof. However, you will need to discuss ventilation with an expert. If this has been happening for a long time, you may need a full roof replacement. 

4. The Roof Shows Signs of Decay

Any sign of rot or decay is a problem, and should not be ignored. It is a sign that problems are occurring, or will occur. You can stave it off with commercial roof maintenance, though it will never last forever. 

Wood and asphalt roofs will begin to rot. You can see this by discoloration, moss, and algae forming on tiles or weathered, missing, and broken parts. 

Shingle roofs will show signs of decay. Shingles will begin to go missing and have large gaps in their placement. You may also notice that they have cracked and began to curl at the edges. You may also begin to find pieces of these shingles in your guttering, which can easily begin to block them and result in water damage. 

5. Inspect the Flashing

Flashing is a skirt that protects the joints of your roof. It stops moisture from getting in, at places that tiles are not malleable enough to cover. You will most likely see it at the base of your chimney. 

Flashing can be made from metal, tar, or cement, depending on the type of roof you have. Cement and tar flashing is more susceptible to water damage. It is also very easy to see if it is decaying, though you must take care when getting onto the roof to inspect. 

If any of your flashing is missing, it will not warrant a whole roof replacement but will need replacing itself. If you have cement or tar, consider upgrading to the much more effective metal flashing. 

6. You Have Unwanted Guests

There are a number of reasons animals would take up residence in your roof. It is warm, sheltered, and most likely provides access to areas of food. If you have seen them or heard noises, then they must have found a way to get in through a hole or gap in the tiles. 

Luckily, this will probably not warrant a whole roof replacement. It will however need repair, and the assistance of a pest control expert to rid you of the problem before the repairs are conducted.

7. Discoloration of Walls and Ceilings

Finally, discoloration of walls and ceilings can signal problems with the roof. If you are seeing streaks and lines, it suggests that they are from one source. This may be manageable with a repair once the area has been found. 

More than one streak or line, or a huge area of discoloration signals large problems with your roof. If your property has an attic and insulation is damp and soggy, it is a sign that you may need a full roof replacement. 

Get Professional Roof Repair Advice

Once you notice a problem, do not hesitate in getting professional roof repair assistance. Further damage can reduce the value of your property, damage its contents and result in further expenditure down the line. 

HP Roofing should be your first stop when looking for professional roofing experts in the California area. We have a number of locations providing commercial roof repairs, so contact us for a quote and let us safeguard our property starting today.