With fall in full swing, many Minnesota homeowners have wintertime on their minds—and are working on their exteriors accordingly. From cracking down on air leaks with better insulation to redoing their windows for a cozier interior, lots of things need to get done.
One to-do that sometimes can fly under the radar unless your roof is extremely damaged: leaks. The signs aren’t always obvious from ground-level, but a leaky roof can nonetheless wreak havoc on your home if left through the colder months.
Below, Intelligent Design Corporation, your preferred Maple Grove roofing company, discusses what you need to know about leaky roofs before the snow flies: the danger of leaving them, how to know if you have one, and what to do if that’s the case.
The Dangers of Leaving a Leaky Roof
Certainly, there are tell-tale signs of a leaky roof that can be seen from a home’s interior; wall and ceiling stains are a couple of them. But the damage a leaky roof can cause is often harder to pinpoint until it spirals out of control.
Take, for instance, mold problems. Any breach in your roof, regardless of the season, allows moisture into your attic. Since attics are a relatively warm, dark, and undisturbed space, mold can take advantage of this added moisture and start to colonize. This is more than a cosmetic and structural issue. Per the National Capital Poison Center, “mold is associated with some untoward health effects in humans, including allergies and infections.”
Leaving a leaky roof when winter is approaching is also a great way to invite wildlife inside your attic space—something that both fosters disease and leaves you needing costly repairs.
How Do I Know If I Have a Leaky Roof?
Aside from the obvious staining signs mentioned above, there are a few indicators you should look out for. For instance, you may stick your head into the attic on a wet day and hear a dripping sound. Puddling on a roof also can, strangely enough, lead to a leak, as shingles aren’t designed to stand up to standing water. Finally, damaged flashing often indicates damage behind it.
For more on signs of roofing damage, check out our blog on the subject.
What Do I Do If I Know My Roof Is Leaky?
Simple: you call a residential roofing company with water damage experience to patch things up. Because there’s so much at risk when it comes to a leaky roof, going the DIY route just isn’t worth it. You’ll also most likely need to repair your roof’s exterior in addition to your attic, something that only a pro has the equipment to do.
Intelligent Design Corporation: Top-Notch Maple Grove Roofing Contractors
We’d be happy to fix up your home in time for the colder months. To learn more about your home restoration opportunities with us, reach our office today at 763-315-0745.