Akron Residents: 4 Signs It’s Time for a New Roof

Residents of the Akron, OH area typically enjoy a relatively mild climate through most of the year, with very warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Homeowners living in areas with variable yearly weather typically face more challenges when it comes to roof maintenance than those living in areas with more static annual weather. Temperature and humidity changes as well as different forms of precipitation throughout the year can cause several problems for homes’ roofs, especially older homes with roofs that may need repair or replacement.

It’s essential for every property owner to know the signs of a roof in need of repair. When Akron homeowners and commercial property owners start to suspect their roofs are deteriorating, a full check of the roof is an essential step in protecting their homes and business properties. A roof in disrepair can lead to water damage from heavy rain or physical damage from high winds, potentially damaging other vital structures and endangering the people inside. Pay close attention to the following signs that it may be time to invest in a new roof.

Climbing Utility Bills

The roof on top of your home or commercial building does more than just protect the interior from bad weather. It also keeps the inside a comfortable temperature by insulating it from the cold and protecting it from the heat. When a roof begins to deteriorate, you may notice your utility bills start to climb as your heating and air conditioning system will need to work harder to compensate. A damaged roof can allow the cooled air from the air conditioning system to escape during warm weather. Eventually, this can cause parts of the air conditioning system to breakdown, leading to costly repairs in addition to higher utility bills in the summer.

Similarly, a damaged roof will also allow warmed air from your heating system to escape during the winter. The Akron area sees some fairly low winter temperatures each year, so the heating system will essentially need to run constantly to compensate for warm air escaping out of the structure. Investing in a new roof during the fall or spring can help preserve your heating and cooling systems and ensure they run at peak efficiency when you rely on them the most.

Water Damage

Have you noticed any wet spots on your drywall, sagging ceilings, or leaks inside your home during heavy rains? Water damage requires immediate attention, and a roof in disrepair can allow rainwater and snowmelt to leak inside of your home. Once inside, water will drip down to the lowest accessible point in the structure, ultimately pooling wherever it comes to rest. If this happens to be inside of a wall or on top of the slab in your basement, water damage can become an expensive problem. Additionally, stagnant water pooling inside a structure can eventually become a health hazard, creating a breeding ground for pests, bacteria, and even mold.

When a roof has already shown signs of water damage in the beams and rafters inside a structure, it is imperative to replace the roof as soon as possible before the damage worsens. A roof collapse is certainly a possibility, but the water damage that will undoubtedly accumulate while the roof waits for replacement can be devastating for any structure in the Akron area.

Deteriorating Shingles

The shingles of a roof allow water to slide off the roof and into the gutter system, protecting the supporting structures below the roof. If you have noticed any signs of deteriorating shingles on your roof or around your property, take this as a sign that your roof may need a repair or replacement very soon. Some of the most common signs of a roof in need of repair or replacement involving shingles include:

● Missing shingles falling into your gutters or around your home.
● Warped, chipped, or curled shingles on the roof.
● A large amount of shingle granules accumulating in your gutters.
● Patches of discolored shingles on the roof.
● Sagging spots, or parts of the roof that appear uneven or warped.

Any of these signs should encourage a property owner to conduct a full roof inspection as soon as possible. Pay extra close attention to sagging spots that may be indications of water damage or rot forming below the shingles on the roof bed.

Moss Growing on Your Roof

You may love the flora growing around your property, but you definitely do not want any growing on your roof. Inspect your roof regularly and pay close attention to any moss formation. If you notice any moss, do not assume that it is simply growing on the outside of your shingles and is therefore harmless. Moss can absorb quite a lot of water during a rainstorm and allow water damage to escalate very rapidly. Moss growing on the roof is usually an indication of trapped moisture, which can lead to structural damage faster than you might expect.

Benefits of Upgrading to a Metal Roof

Traditional asphalt shingle roofs may be attractive to some, but many property owners in the Akron area and throughout the country are upgrading to metal roofs due to the several advantages they offer over asphalt shingle roofs. Homeowners and commercial property owners should consider the various benefits of metal roofs if they notice their existing roofs are in desperate need of repairs.

Metal roofs are available in many different colors and styles to fit any aesthetic. Some homeowners may wish to retain the look of asphalt shingles, and it’s possible to do so with dimensional shingle metal roofs, Spanish tile-styled metal shingles, or even a metal roof that mimics the appearance of wood shake.

Homeowners and business property owners in the Akron area won’t need to worry about roof replacements for a long time after investing in new metal roofs. While a well-built traditional shingle roof will last 20 to 25 years at most, a metal roof can last 50 to 100 years depending on metal type and local climate. They will also incur a fraction of the repair costs over time compared to asphalt shingle roofs.

Metal roofs are tremendous investments for any Akron property owner, offering tremendous value, increased energy efficiency, lower maintenance costs, and peace of mind for much longer than any asphalt shingle roof.