Roofs are rugged. They are made to withstand the elements and resist damage. There can be a terrible storm, and in many cases, your roof will be perfectly fine. Perhaps this is why homeowners are sometimes quick to shrug off certain roof problems. They assume the problem is nothing to worry about and that the roof will be just fine, but in some cases, unfortunately, they are wrong. The following are some roof problems that are easy to shrug off, but really should be addressed by a roofing contractor.
Granules in the gutters.
Are there tiny granules in your gutters? They might look like little pebbles, but they are shiny and usually black or dark gray. This is not just dirt that has rinsed off your roof. Those granules were attached to your shingles and now they have worn away, likely because the shingles are becoming brittle. Shingles that have lost their granules do not offer very much protection anymore. They should be replaced — maybe not immediately, but soon. Call your roofer and have them look over the roof. They'll tell you whether you just need a few brittle shingles replaced, or whether a full roof replacement is in the cards.
Streaks down the roof.
Does your roof have black streams that look like someone rinsed paint down it? These streaks are actually caused by algae growth, which is a fairly common problem with shingle roofs. In its early stages, algae just looks ugly, but as it continues to grow, it can contribute to the deterioration of the roof. You will want to have a roofer come apply roof-safe herbicides to the roof, which will help prevent the algae from getting any worse.
Frosty nails in the attic.
If you go into the attic on a cold day, you might see some nails poking through the ceiling and covered with frost. Those actually should not be there. They are essentially mistakes that a roofer made when installing or repairing your roof. The nails should have been driven into the attic beams but were accidentally driven through the roof deck. If they stay there, the frost they develop can lead to moisture damage. A roofer can come remove them and replace them with properly placed nails.
If you notice frosted nails, algae streaks, or missing granules, don't ignore the problem. Roofers deal with these problems all the time and can help you out.
