Roofing’s most common questions

A DEFINITIVE GUIDE

COMMON ROOFING PROBLEMS

Walls and floors are important for a comfortable home, but your roof is the star of the show when it comes to keeping your family shielded from severe weather. Unfortunately, many people forget to care for their roof, because it is a part of the house they can’t easily see. You are not likely to notice if something is damaged because of wear and tear from the elements. There are five common roofing problems your roofer sees on a regular basis, from Louisville over to Shelbyville these hold true. All of these roofing issues start as minor roofing concerns, but before you know it, they become major roofing problems.

The climate in Louisville over to Shelbyville areas can make the roofing process problematic. Some issues may require only a simple roof repair, but others can be costly. To handle these regional problems, you need to hire a local roofer familiar with avoiding these common mistakes.

BELOW ARE 5 COMMON KENTUCKY ROOFING PROBLEMS

SHINGLES

All Kentucky new roofs started off as a wooden frame, with wood panels attached to hold its structure. Of course, wood can’t keep moisture out of your home, so the entire surface of your roof is covered with shingles. When your shingles start to curl, become damaged, or fall off altogether, rainwater can get in. Many roofing problems in Kentucky start as improper ventilation or poor roofing installation. These causes rot in the wood, and it can lead to other problems like mildew, mold, and a leaky roof getting on your ceilings.

FLASHING

Your heating and air conditioning units vent outside, along with your furnace which causes many common Kentucky roofing problems. Often, the vents go out through your new roof, which requires holes in the wood structure felt and shingles. Your local roofer uses metal or plastic flashing called pipe jacks to keep these features sealed tightly so that no water squeezes between the vents and the new roof. Damaged or missing flashing is another way to create a water leak through your roof into your home.

GUTTERS

Your gutters serve to move the rainwater away from the walls and foundation of your home, which prevents damage to the property. However, they can easily get blocked by sticks, leaves, and even kid’s toy-like tennis balls and small plastic footballs. Under extreme weather conditions, gutters can fill with water becoming very heavy and become detached or let water under the shingles and leak into your home. Gutters are another very common Kentucky roofing problem even though they are not technically part of the roof.

FASCIA

Fascia is the name of the wooden panels that frame your roof and face outward, adding a finished look to your home. These pieces are often more fragile than other features of your exterior, so heavy winds and rain can jar them loose. This is another opportunity for moisture to seep inside. Your Kentucky home should have what is called drip edge running along the top edge that keeps the rain off the fascia and helps prevent rot.

SOFFIT

This unusual word is the proper name for the area underneath your roof’s overhang. It is more sheltered from the elements than other parts of your Louisville home, so birds, squirrels, and other creatures often make themselves a little nest. As your home ages, it gets easier for them to find or make holes in this area, allowing them access to your walls and ceilings.

There’s a lot more to consider when you are considering a new roof or a roof repair. check out our other blog articles, we’ve compiled more in-depth information to help answer your common roofing questions.