Your home is one of the biggest investments you'll make in life, so it makes sense to keep it diligently maintained to ensure you enjoy it for many years to come. But homeowners often fall prey to that old "out of sight, out of mind" adage when it comes to roof repair. Your roof is well out of reach of prying eyes, so it's difficult to know what's going on up there—but everything needs maintenance and repairs from time to time, and the upper part of your house is certainly no exception.
Assuming that everything is just fine up on your roof could be a costly mistake. Damage to the uppermost part of your house ruins the energy efficiency of your home and raises energy costs by allowing heat transfer. At the same time, a deteriorated surface lets in moisture that leads to serious problems such as wood rot—which could compromise structural integrity and cause a collapse. It's really important to know the signs that your home needs roof repair so you can call a professional for help before the problem worsens and spreads.
If you notice some of the signs we've listed below outside or inside your house, don't panic—you can trust your local Wichita handyman to take care of roof repair efficiently and effectively. The team of service professionals at Mr. Handyman of the Wichita Metro Area has decades of combined experience in repair and improvement trades, including roof repair, so we know what to do to restore your home's protection against moisture and energy efficiency, and curb appeal. As a locally owned and operated business, we are proud to serve the people of Wichita, KS, and nearby areas with quality workmanship and excellent customer service.
Will a Handyman Do Roof Repair in Wichita, KS?
Yes! Our experienced team of handyman professionals is more than capable of handling a wide range of roofing services, from roof maintenance or a simple repair to roof inspections or a complete roof replacement. In fact, that's one of the advantages of working with our team—if you need a small repair, like replacing just one shingle, you probably won't even be able to get a specialized roofing company to come out and take care of it because they only want to focus on the biggest, most lucrative jobs. For our team, there's no roof repair job that's too big and none that is too small. Whatever your house needs to get back in excellent condition, you can rely on us for expert workmanship that goes the extra mile.
We have all applicable state-level licenses and are fully insured, so you can rest easy knowing we have the training and experience to work safely and adhere to all building codes. Our team members also pass an extensive screening process, including an employee background check program, so you can have confidence that we will display professional, courteous behavior at all times. There's no need to worry about what would happen if the work wasn't completed correctly because we stand behind our handyman experts with a workmanship warranty called the Done Right Promise—if it's not done right, we'll make it right.
How Does Roof Repair Help Save Money?
You may be wondering how a damaged roof could be costing you money month after month and how roof repair could prevent a leak in your bank account by fixing a leak in your house. Problems such as roof leaks can actually have a major impact on energy costs—not to mention the structural stability of your house—and you can save a significant amount of money in the long term with commercial and residential roofing services.
The issue relates back to heat transfer, the natural process in which thermal energy constantly attempts to move from a warmer area to a cooler area. That means when it's hot outside, and you've got your air conditioner running, heat from the sun tries to get into the cool indoors. When it's winter, and your furnace is on, the heat it provides will try to escape to the cold outside. Builders and product manufacturers are constantly trying to one-up each other with innovative ways to prevent heat transfer because it changes the temperature in your home and undermines the efforts of your HVAC system. Your HVAC system then has to operate more frequently and for longer periods of time, which drives up its fuel consumption and results in increased energy charges on your monthly utility bill.
But there's more. Problems such as missing shingles, damaged fascia boards, and more let excess moisture into your attic space, which causes issues with wood rot and other types of water damage. It also flattens and deteriorates your attic insulation, so it can't adequately block heat transfer between the unheated space between the top portion and the upper story of your home. Our expert services for roof repair in Wichita, KS, will restore energy efficiency to your home by fixing up the damaged areas that are allowing heat transfer to occur. Sealing in warm and cool air from your HVAC system will give it a break and lower your energy usage, so you don't have to pay so much on your energy bills.
Signs Your Roof Needs Repairs
Now that you know a bit more about why roof repair is so important and the benefits you (and your wallet) can get from it, you may be wondering if your house needs professional handyman help right now or if you can let it slide for a few seasons. Damage to the uppermost portion of your building needs to be dealt with immediately, even if it doesn't seem like that big of a deal. It's much better to have your local handyman out to replace one shingle than to let water seep into your attic space and cause all sorts of major problems that will have you wishing you'd just called for a basic repair when you first noticed that something wasn't right. Here are some of the major warning signs that indicate your house needs repair services as soon as possible.
Broken, Warped, or Missing Shingles
Shingles are your house's outermost layer, its armor against everything from moisture incursion and harsh weather patterns to wildlife attacks and pest invasion. If you've got broken shingles or shingles that are missing altogether, they can't protect against any of that. Water will seep into the gap, and as we know, it won't stop there—it'll continue trying to make its way down through your house, causing numerous problems on its way down. You may also notice shingles that are still whole and in place but have suffered visible warping and are either bulging outward or cupping inward. This is a terrible sign that definitely indicates you need roof repair because it means there's already moisture under the shingles affecting your roof deck and everything else underneath.
Plant Growth
If you cast your gaze upward and notice some moss or algae growing on the top of your house, it may not seem like that big of a deal—it's got a quaint cottage vibe, and how much harm could it really do? Well, as it turns out, a lot. Organic growth attracts and locks in moisture, which eats away at your shingles. The growth and spread of the moss or algae can also create problems such as lifting or crumbling shingles. But it's not as simple as just sending someone up there to knock off a few clumps of moss—it needs professional repair from an experienced roofer. Wichita, KS homeowners can rely on us to completely eliminate plant growth, so it doesn't just reappear in a few days or weeks.
Shingle "Sand" In Gutters
Are your rain gutters full of tiny bits and pieces of roof shingles that look a bit like grains of sand? This is a clear sign that your shingle roof has reached the end of its lifespan and needs repair or a new roofing installation. The "grains" are flaking off your composite or asphalt shingles, which means they are deteriorating and losing their ability to block out water.
Clogged Soffit Vents
Soffit boards are the pieces that cover the underside of your eaves where they extend past the walls of the building—you'll see them if you stand next to an exterior wall and look straight up. They should be ventilated with holes or slats, which may not seem that important—but those little vent holes play a big role in preventing water damage from the underside of your roof.
The topmost part of a house is designed to get damp from rain or humidity and dry out on its own to avoid moisture damage, but it can't dry out without adequate air circulation from soffit vents. As we all learned in science class, heat rises—so your attic can get hot and humid and needs to be able to rid itself of warm air. If soffit vents get clogged with dirt and debris or blocked by something from the inside and there's not enough ventilation, your house can suffer from a condition called "attic rain." That's when condensation forms on the underside of the roof and drip down, damaging your attic insulation and ceiling drywall. It can also cause supporting beams to soften and crumble apart over time, putting your house at risk of roof collapse. Repairs may be all your roof needs if the soffits can be unblocked and thoroughly clean, but if they are broken or beyond saving, they will need to be replaced altogether to improve air circulation.
Damaged Fascia Boards
Fascia boards often go hand-in-hand with soffits because they are located right next to each other—but they are not the same. Fascia boards cap off the edge of your roof eaves, running parallel to your exterior walls, and they are usually where rain gutters are attached. They are particularly prone to damage from overflowing gutters that haven't been cleaned out in a while and can suffer from issues such as wood rot and rust. They can also suffer from storm damage, get infested with destructive insects, or suffer impact damage from falling tree branches.
Interior Moisture Damage
If you have a leaky roof, the water isn't going to just sit in your attic space and not go anywhere. It'll continue its journey down and affect the inside of your house. That's why damaged ceilings and other interior water damage are often among homeowners' first clues that their roof is in seriously poor condition. Find out more about ceiling repairs in Wichita, KS. Interior moisture problems can cause major structural damage, destroying your belongings and causing other issues that can threaten the health of you and your family. You may see signs such as:
- Light or dark water stains on your ceilings and walls
- Ceiling sagging in the middle
- Peeling or blistering paint
- Patches of softened, crumbling drywall
- Wood rot on interior trim elements such as window frames, door jambs, crown molding, baseboards, wainscoting, and more
Visible Light in Attic Space
If you stick your head up into your attic space on a bright, sunny day and see streams of sunlight coming in through holes and cracks in your roof, you don't need us to tell you there's a problem that requires roof repair. If your roof itself has degraded to that point, you likely have extensive water damage and need a roof replacement. But if the light is coming in around areas with damaged exterior trim or at gables, your Wichita handyman can likely get it fixed up efficiently, so the light (and the moisture) is blocked out.
When You Can't Go Another Season Without Roof Repair, Call the Pros at Mr. Handyman!
Whether you're in Wichita, KS, or a nearby area such as Sedgwick, Garden Plain, or Haysville, you can get the comprehensive roofing repair services you need for all types of roofs from the all-star team of professionals at Mr. Handyman of the Wichita Metro Area. We offer services for everything from minor repairs like replacing a single shingle to bigger projects like fixing your entire roof, along with a wide range of services for all the other areas of your residential or commercial property.
If you'd like to know more about our reliable handyman services in Wichita, KS, or you're ready to schedule an appointment for roof repair near me, pick up the phone and give us a call today at 316-285-1217 . We always go the extra mile to provide quality service because customer satisfaction is our top priority.