What to Do if the House You Want to Buy Has a Bad Roof?

Picture This: You’ve been looking to purchase a new home for the last few months (or even years) and nothing has allowed you to say “this is the one.” Then out of nowhere, you find the house you’ve been looking for! Everything seems perfect until you take a tour of it and find out that the roof is in terrible condition

Should you still consider this house even with the roof damage?

Well, let’s talk about the types of damage it may have:

roof damage

Shingle Condition

The first thing you’ll look at is the condition of the roofing shingles. Each material will have its own telltale signs that they’re old and need to be replaced. Asphalt shingles can crack and curl, cedar shingles can split and turn grey, slate shingles can split and break off, etc.

Whichever material this roof utilizes, give the roof a visual inspection to assess the current condition of the shingles. You should also ask the realtor or owner of the house how old the current roof is.

Roof Leaks

When the condition of the roofing shingles or flashing are not in good condition (or are not installed properly), roof leaks are almost always a result. These leaks can cause mold growth, wood rot, and weaken the overall structure of the roof underneath the shingles.

A way to inspect a home for roof leaks is to enter the attic space and look for wet spots, warped wood, mold growth, and light that peers in during the daytime.

Roof leaks can be fixed if they’re newer and smaller, but if they’re larger or have been around for a while — the damage could have already taken its toll in shortening the roof’s lifespan.

Structural Damage

When old age, roof leaks, or too many layers of roofing shingles exists with a roof, the structure of the roof can become damaged and weakened. A roof with a weakened structure will need to be fully replaced — wood, shingles, flashing, etc.

Failing to replace a roof with a weakened structure can put the roof at risk of sagging and eventually collapsing. This not only fails to protect your home from the outside elements but also becomes a hazard to you and your family.

It’s Time to Make a Decision

When the house you want to buy has a bad roof, you have to take into account the severity of the issues. If there are a few missing shingles and small roof leaks that seem to be relatively new, it can be worth it to make the repairs in order to have the home of your dreams.

However, if the roof is well past its lifespan or there are multiple roof leaks that have caused some damage — the repair and replacement costs are only going to be worth it if you believe this is the ONLY house you want to live in. (Also, remember that while the upfront costs might seem expensive, you’re also reinvesting into the home and increasing its overall value.)

If the roof has severe structural damage, the house may not be worth your time, money, and energy.

Finding the perfect house is a moment of bliss — that can easily be ruined by a bad roof.

When you’re in need of a roof inspection, repair, or replacement, our roofers will be there for you with a competitive estimate sure to follow!

Animals That Can Ruin your Roof (and What to Do About Them)

When you think of roof damage, you usually think of leaks caused by heavy rainfall or debris that collides with the roof via highspeed winds.

While storms can cause serious damage to your roof, you should also be worried about your neighbors

No, not Jim next door. The wild animals that live right outside your home!

Squirrel on the Roof

Animals That Can Damage Your Roof

When you live in suburban neighborhoods (such as the many across Connecticut), running into wild animals can be a regular occurrence. You might be thinking to yourself:

“I’ve never seen a wild animal on my roof before though.”

However, certain wild animals are sneaky enough where they will explore your roof without you knowing — until you see the damage they leave behind.

Common wild animals that can be found on your roof include raccoons, squirrels, opossums, chipmunks, birds, bats, and a whole slew of insects.

How Animals Can Ruin Your Roof

The roof of your home is meant to protect your home from Mother Nature’s harsh weather conditions. Roofs aren’t meant to handle constant contact with animals (or humans) or their methods of trying to get inside of the roof to the attic space.

Wild animals like squirrels, raccoons, and opossums will use their paws and teeth to create openings in the roof. Whether the animals get inside of your home or not, the damage will then be susceptible to roof leaks which will lead to wood rot, mold, and a shortened lifespan of your roof.

Birds and bats can also cause damage to your roof simply by nesting in troublesome areas — like in roof vents. Nests (and the actual animals nesting) can block the flow of air in and out of the attic space. A lack of proper airflow can damage the structure of the roof during periods of extreme temperatures.

How to Prevent Animals From Damaging Your Roof

You can’t just put a sign on your roof that says “No Entry.” Therefore, you have to follow some preventative measures:

  • Trim back any trees and shrubbery with branches that hang too close to the roof. (Overhanging trees act as a bridge from nature to your home.)
  • Add anti-bird spikes to the edges of your roof to prevent birds from landing here.
  • Have mild roof damage repaired ASAP to prevent wild animals from using this as an easy access point to your attic space.
  • Perform visual inspections of your roof for not only damage but also to look out for any animals nesting.

For those experiencing roofing problems because of wild animals, make sure you contact your local pest management specialists to explore the best prevention methods.

In addition to pest control, contact your local roofer to have them perform an inspection of your roof and repair any damage these wild animals may have caused.