5 Signs Your Roof Sustained Water Damage

Most homeowners are not aware of these signs of water damage until it is too late.

The need to fix the issue right away is what causes them to spend more money than needed. It also causes them stress and headaches.

You see, if you don’t act quickly after learning that you have signs of roof water damage, you risk having serious problems within your household. Furthermore, if it is not addressed right away, the problem will only get worse over time resulting in a leaking roof.

Leaking Roof

Roofs are designed to protect the interior of your home from harsh weather conditions outside.

Without proper protection, you will be left standing in several inches of rain or snow with a leaking roof during the wintertime. There may also be cases where it rains for days on end without stopping due to a clogged gutter system or poor drainage provider by the roofing material used.

According to statistics, most American homes experience some sort of roof damage by age twenty. A new study conducted by home improvement retailer Menards revealed that over 70% of all roofs are destroyed before they reach their 40th birthday.

Keep an Eye for Signs of Roof Water Damage

While it is difficult to prevent roof damage, there are certain warning signs you should look for. If you notice any of these things, it’s time to get in touch with a contractor immediately.

The last thing you want to do is wait too long and have massive water damage throughout your home. After all, by taking quick action, this could easily be avoided altogether.

You do not want to ignore these warning signs and allow them to linger for several months before getting anything done about it. After all, water can destroy all types of wood flooring within minutes if left unchecked. When the moisture gets under the floorboards, it starts breaking down various components within the wood.

If you want to know how damaged your roof is after severe weather has passed, then look for broken or missing shingles. If there are holes in the roof, it’s time to call a contractor, as this will allow water to leak through with greater ease. After all, shingles act as an important layer of protection against extreme elements during the winter months and summer sun alike.

Water damage within the home can quickly add up, especially if you’re dealing with large pools of standing water throughout various rooms inside the structure.

Some of the many signs that your roof has sustained water damage could be anyone or a combination of these five:

1. White Spots on Walls or Ceilings
2. Dark or Black Streaks Leaking from Under Shingles
3. Water Pooling in Attic
4. Blocked Gutters and Downspouts
5. Cracked Siding and Mortar Between Bricks (Foundation)

Let’s dive deeper into each of these signs of roof water damage one by one.

1.)  White Spots on Walls or Ceilings

The first sign that you have water damage is when white spots appear on the walls or ceilings.

These are called efflorescence, which are salt deposits formed by moisture coming through the wall. When water penetrates through the roof, it will settle on the flat ceilings or walls of your home. As a result, you might notice white spots forming there.

These are salt deposits that have come through to the wall or ceiling from underneath shingles.

Take note of white spots on the ceiling or walls that are discolored or appear dingy in nature.  These are also signs of roof water damage. It could be from an ice dam forming around your gutters during the winter months.

Moreover, damp walls are another sign that something is wrong with your roofing system. This includes areas where you have recently installed lamps or other electrical appliances near the affected area. Chimney soffit leaks are also a common occurrence during the winter months.

Noticeably when walls start getting wet without any explanation as to why you need to act quickly. This is because the problem has likely developed somewhere in your roofing system.

Water damage homeowners insurance claim should be filed right away if this occurs.

2.) Dark or Black Streaks Leaking from Under Shingles

When you have water damage, the most common indicator is black streaks that leak out from under shingles. If there’s a lot of debris caught up in them, then it could also be an indication that your roof has sustained water damage.

When water penetrates through the roof, it will settle on the flat ceilings or walls of your home. As a result, you might notice black streaks forming there. These are water stains leaking out from under shingles.

If you notice dark or black streaks leaking out from under shingles, then you have a bigger issue on your hands.

You see, it’s an indication that there is something wrong with the waterproof membrane that needs immediate attention by a professional contractor.

However, these spots need to be seen in conjunction with other signs before you can make an accurate assessment about whether or not there has been water damage.

Also, one of the first red flags should always be when you see signs of mold growth.

Although this can happen anywhere in the home, it will often happen on surfaces where there is a constant source of moisture or humidity. Therefore, this will almost always be on drywall(s) and ceilings that are exposed to elements outside the home.

Water Damage is the leading cause of mold in many homes. Not only can water damage your home, but it can also be dangerous to your health.

It should be taken seriously as soon as possible!

2.)  Water Pooling in Attic (Signs of Water Damage)

If you have water pooling in your attic, this is another sign that there is something wrong with your roof.

You may not realize it, but one easy way to spot possible roof leaks is to look at the spots on your ceiling below where any roof vents are located. If you see areas on your ceiling where there is an absence of light because of dark spots, this means that water is pooling up in your attic.

When there’s very heavy rainfall, water may settle on the flat ceiling of your roof and start pooling up. You can see this by looking up at shingles near the edge of the roof.

If it looks like there are dark spots forming on these shingles, then the chances are that water has collected thereafter rainfall and might cause a leaking roof.

4.) Blocked Gutters and Downspouts

When you have blocked gutters, which can be due to leaves or other debris during the autumn months, it causes rainwater to build up on top of the roof.

When rainwater is allowed to travel into gutters that are blocked by leaves or other debris, then it will slowly build up on your roof.

This can cause the shingles to curl back at sharp angles where they are more susceptible to breaking off after snow melts. It also causes your gutter’s base slope angle to become less effective at directing water away from your home by causing it to overflow into low areas around the perimeter of your home.

You should never ignore signs that there may be a problem with your gutters, as this could cause permanent damage over time.

5.) Cracked Siding and Mortar Between Bricks (Foundation)

These are all signs that you have water damage. The first thing you need to do is contact a contractor who can properly assess the situation.

Sometimes, problems may be easy to fix, but not always. If your roof has sustained water damage, then it should be taken care of as soon as possible.

You don’t want to let the problem get worse over time because this could lead to mold growing inside your home’s walls or even cause other structural components within your home to give way under stress-load.

To Conclude (Prevent Further Damage)

If you notice your floors start to warp or buckle, it is probably a sign that there is too much moisture present. If the subflooring underneath starts to peel up, this may indicate that water damage has occurred throughout the years and needs immediate attention by a contractor.

You need to watch out for blocked gutters because they will cause problems over time if not taken care of right away. This is especially true when you have an older home with deteriorating components, including mortar between bricks and cracked cedar siding.

To prevent larger issues within your home down the road, take steps now by consulting with a professional contractor to get your roofing system checked out. The last thing you want is for expensive repair bills and other associated costs to pile up while waiting too long to do something about it.