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Hello, and welcome back to the Alden Roofing blog! Today, we’re going to provide our readers with a blog that will come in handy over the course of 2020 and this new decade. If you own a home in Texas, you need to make sure that you’re aware of some common problems that could wreak havoc on your roof and home if not addressed.

Keep reading to learn more about some common roofing problems found in Texas!

Deteriorating Materials

There are a plethora of roofing materials used to put roofs over our heads, and while they do a great job protecting our homes, belongings, and loved ones, they aren’t infallible to deterioration. That’s why it’s incredibly important that you regularly check for deteriorated roofing materials through a roof inspection from Alden Roofing. Until then, let’s talk about some common types of roof material deterioration to look out for.

Shingles

Asphalt and wood shingles are prone to deteriorating over time, and they can also be compromised by strong elements like wind, hail, and other extreme forces of nature. When it comes to determining whether or not your roof is suffering from damaged shingles, you can look for these indicators:

  • Curled shingles
  • Broken shingles
  • Missing shingles
  • Torn shingles
  • Cupped shingles

However, in addition to the visual indicators of broken or damaged shingles, there is another problem that needs to be inspected for. See, shingles feature what are called granules, and they serve to protect the shingles from UV light which is emitted by the sun, and they make the shingles more fire resistant. If a shingle is “bald,” it means that it has lost those protective granules that are so important for optimal shingle function.

Occasionally, in the event of shingle damage, you can get by if you replace only the affected area, but more often than not, damaged shingles require a roof repair or a roof replacement.

Wood
Chances are, wood forms the bones that hold up your roof. However, if a small or large roof leak goes unnoticed for too long, it can irreversibly damage the wood holding your roof up. Unfortunately, because wood damage is usually under the roofing material, it doesn’t get located until a roof replacement is taking place. However, the solution would be to replace the affected wood. Most often, we can patch new wood into the damaged, deteriorated areas.
Damaged And Broken Features
The truth is, we have a lot going on up on our roofs! From skylights to gutter systems, there are a lot of vital components that can cause disastrous effects if broken. Let’s take a closer look.
Skylights
Skylights are such an amazing feature — they grant you natural light and the ability to cloud-gaze from your bed, living room, or even the floor! However a damaged skylight is a common roofing issue that can cause major problems for the structure of your roof.

Most commonly, skylights get damaged by hail or other high-impact interactions, causing the glass to crack. In this case, water can leak into your home and roof structure, causing irreversible damage. Best case scenario? Sometimes, we can replace only a skylight’s glass and you’ll be good to go. However, more often than not, you’ll need Alden Roofing to install an entirely new skylight in your roof.

Gutters

We honestly take our gutters for granted! They perform such a vital service — moving the water off our roofs and away from our homes. Without gutters (or with damaged gutters) you run the risk of moisture damage and leaks in your home. What’s more, a faulty gutter system could actually flood your basement level!

So what are some problems to look for? For one, CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS REGULARLY! A perfectly made gutter system can be worthless if it’s completely stopped-up with leaves, twigs, and who knows what else! But in addition to gutters being clogged, dented or bent gutters, punctured gutters, and gutters that have pulled away from or fallen off of the roof can be a major problem.

The solution? Alden Roofing will happily inspect your gutter system, and then we can clean, repair, or replace your gutters depending on your home’s needs.

Flashing
The intention of roof flashing is to prevent water from infiltrating roof features like your chimney, which will become damaged if affected by moisture. So, damaged roof flashing is a major red flag! This also goes for roof flashing that’s missing.

If you have missing or damaged roof flashing, you’ll want the experts at Alden Roofing to repair your damaged flashing or replace/install if that’s what your roof needs.

Structural Damage
Structural damage can come in many forms. From severe water damage to a fallen tree destroying the structure of your roof, it’s likely something you’ll notice right away. If your roof has structural damage, especially severe structural damage, please contact us immediately for emergency roof repair services. A roof with structural damage is a massive risk to you and your family.
Final Thoughts
These are some specific types of roofing problems you should intentionally keep your eyes out for throughout 2020. That being said, here are a few occasions where you may want to consider a roof inspection to ensure your roof isn’t suffering from any of these problems.

If there is a major wind or hail storm, it’s worth getting your roof inspected. Wind can literally blow sections of your roof off (worst case scenario) or it could blow off a few shingles! And hail has major potential to cause damage to everything from shingles to skylights to gutters.

These are also conditions that can cause roof leaks, which you should be on the lookout for. Specifically, check for discoloration of paint/drywall, paint bubbling, and/or water stains. However, please note that sometimes these symptoms won’t be present when you’re doing a personal inspection for leaks. The only way to be certain that your roof is safe is to have some professionals do an in-depth inspection of your roof and it’s components.

Alden Roofing — The Greater Austin Area’s Top Rated Local® Roofing Company
Thanks for spending some time with our roofing family! Hopefully, this blog has helped raise your awareness of some roofing problems that you should be wary of in 2020. If you’re worried about the status of your roof or think that a roof inspection is overdue, please contact us today! We’ll be happy to talk with you about our roofing services and give you the help you need.

And if you’re interested in learning more about some common roofing problems in Texas, check out our official resource page on the topic!

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