What Causes Water Damage?
- Broken or missing shingles
- Aging roof over 20-30 years old
- Worn out flashing beneath your shingles
- Clogged or slow draining gutters
- Build-up of debris that makes water collect in one place
How Can You Tell You Have a Roof Leak?
- Water marks or discoloration on the ceiling
- Bulges under the paint of your walls or ceiling
- Wood rot in the attic
- Musty or mildew smell
- Noticeable water leaks during storms
For aging or poorly insulated roofs, water leaks are a big concern. More than just an annoying inconvenience, water leaks can cause extensive damage to your home or business. That is why it is important to fix the problem quickly when you see any of the above signs of a leak or damage. What starts off as a simple clean up job can escalate into structural damage if not addressed. Below, we will outline the five main reasons you should act quickly when you see water damage.
1. Ceiling and Attic Damage
If you have an attic in your home, it will be the first site of water damage. Unfortunately, though, this is an area of your home you probably don’t visit often. This means water could be collecting and causing damage for weeks or months before you notice. If you don’t have an attic, you will notice water leaks much quicker as they become visible on your ceilings. In either case, the water is creating problems for your insulation, drywall, and wooden boards.
2. Mold and Mildew Growth
If a water leak is not addressed or goes unnoticed in an attic space, it will likely cause mold and mildew to grow. Both of these fungus types can thrive under a leak in a warm, dark area of your home. Mold is the more threatening of the two as it can cause both structural problems to your home and health issues for your family. It will be green or black in color and grow on the bottom surface of whatever is damp from the leak. Mildew on the other hand can’t cause as many structural issues, but it can still cause health problems. It will be white, gray, or yellow in color and have a powdery texture. Both of these are difficult to get rid of once they start to grow. That is why you should act quickly and call your experienced Atlanta GA roofers the moment you notice a mildewy smell or see either visibly growing.
3. Health Problems
Mildew and mold cause more than just structural damage and destruction of any items stored near the leak. They can also cause serious health issues for your family or pets. Inhaled mildew spores make people cough or have trouble breathing. This can be especially dangerous if you have a family member with respiratory issues like asthma or emphysema. Mold also causes these breathing issues. However, worse than mildew, mold can create reactions like heart issues, fatigue, and migraines. Both of these fungus are especially dangerous if you have young children, elderly, or immune-compromised people living in your home.
4. Fire Risk
In your attic or ceiling, your electrical wiring is stored to light your home and run all of your electronics. But when water begins to leak on this wiring, it becomes a huge fire risk. Although you might not be thinking about a house fire when looking at a leaky roof, this is a consideration you can’t ignore. The water dripping steadily or collecting on your electrical wiring could cause it to spark. This in turn could create a fire that damages your home. To prevent this tragedy, get your leak checked and roof repaired by your trusted Atlanta GA specialists at Perimeter Roofing at the first sign of damage.
5. Structural Damage
If water leaks are not repaired, they will eventually cause structural damage to your home or business. They can even escalate until they impact the structural integrity of your framing, rafters, and foundation. A constant stream of water, even in small drips, will lead to wood rot and deterioration of your drywall. These are very expensive repairs. Instead, get your roof repaired at the first sign of a leak.
To prevent any of the above issues in your residential or commercial property, allow Perimeter Roofing to care for your roof! We offer a wide range of services from Maintenance to coatings and restoration to replacement and roof repair Atlanta GA. Call us at the first sign of water leaking from your roof so we can get the problem fixed quickly. This will prevent you having to spend more down the road on roof replacement or even structural damage.
Contact us at one of our five locations through GA and TN to schedule a free roof inspection today!m
About Atlanta GA
Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, is the city that truly has it all. An amazing offering of historic sites and museums for everyone looking to uncover intriguing facts about the city’s past. A rich, thriving culture, and a range of activities that provide both adults and children with loads of fun, and scenic parks to unwind, relax, and take in the natural beauty of this Georgia gem.