Usually, a roof needs fixing because it’s old. Shingles disintegrate, the roof deck gets wonky in spots, and it’s time to do some repairs or install a new set of shingles.
But sometimes something small happens—hard to notice without a close inspection—and a localized problem spreads.
We’re talking roof damages and roof punctures here.
Because they’re small—and their telltale signs are usually only apparent in the unused part of an attic or aren’t obvious until water damage gets severe enough somewhere else in the structure—looking for them is part of any professional roof inspection.
This is just the kind of service that Iconic Roofing & Exteriors can provide. Our home base is New Castle, Delaware, and we serve the greater Philadelphia region.
A roof puncture is as simple as it sounds: a distinct hole in your roof. The most common way this happens is someone—for example, a satellite dish installer, roofer, or painter—drops a tool or steps on a weak spot and inadvertently creates a problem. In other cases, such as apartment houses or the like, people spend time on a roof to sunbathe or just hang out and, let’s face it, folks are not always too careful when pursuing such activities.
What we’re talking about here is more than just denting a roofing shingle or two. A puncture goes through the roofing underlayment—and maybe even the roof deck—and becomes an open tap to whatever moisture coming from the sky. Sometimes the person who creates the problem doesn’t notice; sometimes they just don’t want to fuss up.
Flying debris can also cause roof punctures. If a strong storm has occurred and branches or other material was airborne and hit any part of your roof, then it’s not out of the question that damage occurred. Of course, if this was significant and happened during a pouring rainstorm, the damage done was probably pretty obvious and you need more than a roof inspection.
As far as avoiding roof punctures, preventive measures are the best. Since people are most often the cause, be careful about granting access to the roof and vet any tradespeople who might do work on your home. When working on a roof is necessary, avoid bringing heavy objects onto it (keep them in a staging area, like on nearby scaffolding). And tell tenants—or your kids—to not climb out of their window to hang out on the roof.
Flat roofs are especially prone to punctures. If equipment is mounted on a flat roof—like an air conditioning unit or solar panels—then a dedicated walkway that provides access to it is a wise investment. This keeps people off of roofs not designed for foot traffic.
If you suspect you might have roof punctures to contend with—or any other type of roofing issue, including an annual inspection—please contact Iconic Roofing & Exteriors so we can provide you with the best Delaware Residential roofing services available.
