Interior Signs It’s Time to Upgrade Your Roof

Did you know that a roof leak can go undetected for months? After reading this article, you’ll be able to detect interior signs that your roof needs repairs or replacement. As a homeowner, it’s important to know these things to avoid roof collapse, high energy bills, sickness, and the most expensive repairs.

Roof Life Expectancies

All roofs have an expiration date. According to 5 ASH, “Age matters because roofing materials degrade on a molecular level over time.” A roof’s lifespan depends on its material: 

• Asphalt shingles last for 15-25 years.

• Metal roofs last for 40-70 years.

• Tile or slate roofs last for 50-100 years.

• Flat or low-slope roofs last for 10-20 years.

Your roof’s age can factor into insurance considerations. When your roof reaches the end of its lifespan, your insurer may require an inspection or adjust your coverage terms.

What Are the Signs That My Roof Is Going Bad?

Roof problems often go unnoticed until you need expensive repairs, so look inside for signs of damage and schedule an annual inspection, plus one after every major storm.

One sign of roof dysfunction is damp, compressed attic insulation or insulation that has lost its fluffy texture.

Don’t Ignore the Signs You Can SEE!

You can see some signs of roof damage, wear, and poor ventilation from inside your house:

• Brown or yellow stains on the ceilings and walls.

• Visible mold or mildew on the attic rafters, ceilings, and near windows, especially black spots in the corner of the bathroom, which indicate moisture.

• When cold glass meets humid air, the water condenses and remains. So, condensation or foggy windows, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, are major signs of moisture in the air.

• If steam or damp air has nowhere to escape, it attacks the wall finishes. Peeling paint, soft spots on doors and windowsills, and bubbling wallpaper typically appear after moisture gets trapped. Water stains signal long-term exposure.

Don’t Neglect the Signs You Can SMELL!

Your sense of smell can tell you a lot about your roof's condition. Look out for:

• A musty smell on the second floor or in the attic

• Lingering cooking smells, mustiness, and pet odor when you return home indicate that pollutants and stale air aren't being ventilated.

• Stale or stuffy rooms, especially down the hall from plenty of open windows, mean your vents are clogged, or your HVAC airflow isn’t balanced.

• Chemical fumes from paint, cleaners, or new furniture, along with smoke, can build up to unhealthy concentrations without proper ventilation.

How To Tell If Your House Has Poor Ventilation

Here are a few ways to recognize poor ventilation:

• Fast dust accumulation and indoor humidity levels over 60% indicate poor ventilation and encourage mold and mildew to grow.

• A strange clammy feeling in the bathrooms and basement

• Difficulty cooling and heating some rooms shows uneven circulation.

• A simple test is to stand in the farthest room from your HVAC unit and see if it cools properly.

Causes of Poor Ventilation in a House

Unfortunately, there are plenty of causes of poor ventilation:

• architectural decisions

• the regional climate

• mechanical breakdowns

• the behavior of the house’s inhabitants

• obstructed attic, basement, and crawlspace vents

• Lack of maintenance for your mechanical systems - Leaky or disconnected ducts allow conditioned air to erode ventilation.

• Sealed homes may have sealed envelopes that trap moisture and VOCs (volatile organic compounds), resulting in indoor air that’s 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air.

Combine all of these factors, and you’ll see an increase in indoor pollutants and moisture.

What Can I Do While Waiting for an Inspection or Repairs?

These tips aren’t as effective as a roof repair or replacement, but while you’re waiting for an inspection, you can try to improve air quality by:

• opening the windows twice a day for 10-20 minutes

• keeping the fan on for 15 minutes after a shower

• turning the kitchen range hood on high when frying or boiling

• drying puddles immediately

• using doormats to take off your shoes, so you don’t track pollutants

• using a dehumidifier

• cleaning or upgrading your HVAC filter

How To Find a Roof Leak from Inside

Here are 10 signs that you have a roof leak:

1. An interior leak after it rains means there is an active leak.

2. Leaky faucets and squeaky doors

3. Stains on the ceilings and walls, especially after prolonged rainfall, are the most obvious signs that you need a new roof. A stain's location doesn’t always match the leak's source. Water frequently travels along rafters and roof decking first, which is why tracing the origin often takes a professional. 

4. Peeling paint

5. Gray, brown, or yellow water stains that are irregularly shaped

6. Since mold is attracted to moisture, it can signal a leak.

7. If you see pinpricks of sunlight through the beams in the attic, water will certainly leak through those same beams.

8. Active dripping or pooling water in the attic means you have a large, worsening leak. Over time, the water can cause the rafters and roof sheathing to rot. Water in the attic is also a fire hazard because it can reach the wiring.

9. Another less obvious signal is rising energy bills with no explanation. When water saturates the insulation, it can no longer resist heat transfer.

10. Bulging or sagging ceilings indicate water has been pooling for a long time, which is urgent. To avoid the ceiling collapsing on you, puncture a small hole in the middle of the bulge with a screwdriver and let it slowly drain into a bucket. Then, call a roofer ASAP.

Where Is My Roof Leak Coming From?

The most common places that roof leaks come from are:

• the flashing around the chimneys, skylights, and vents

• roof valleys

• pipe boot seals

• missing and broken shingles

• ice dams

• clogged gutters

What Diseases Are Associated with Poor Ventilation and Mold?

Poor ventilation makes it easier to get sick and slows recovery. Red flag symptoms include:

• increased asthma attacks or allergy flare-ups

• headaches

• exhaustion

• dizziness

• skin, eye, or throat irritation

If the symptoms above worsen when you return home, it may signal poor air quality.

The Effects of Long-Term Exposure and Who Is Vulnerable

Long-term exposure to stale, unventilated air leads to asthma flare-ups, respiratory infections, and bronchitis. After months or years, you could develop a chronic respiratory disease.

Poor ventilation also increases airborne allergens, such as pet dander, mold, and pollen.

According to PEARCE Home Services, “Elevated indoor CO2, fine particulates, and VOCs tax the heart.” Long-term exposure can increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

Children, seniors, and the chronically ill are the most vulnerable. Children breathe faster and spend more time indoors. Older people are also more susceptible to complications from lower oxygen and pollutants.

Carbon Monoxide and Other Poisonings

Inadequate ventilation can cause poisonous gases to accumulate in your home.

• High CO2 levels and humidity lead to sleep disturbances, lethargy, and poor decision-making.

• If vents and flues are blocked, combustion gases can build up and cause carbon monoxide poisoning!

• Radon, a colorless, odorless gas that causes cancer, can seep through the foundation and into the basement and crawl space.

Between the possibility of collapse, illness, and disease, a roofing issue is a safety issue. Stay safe. If you see, smell, or feel warning signs, call Town Corners Exteriors at 616-344-4802 or fill out our contact form for an inspection or estimate! We service roofs and exteriors in West Michigan from Grand Rapids to the lakeshore.