How to Know When Your Porch Needs a New Roof

Many Memphis homeowners know that the roof on their home needs to be maintained and inspected regularly, but often they might forget about the smaller roofs on their porches or sheds. And, since porches and sheds are outside the main body of your house, roof repair alerts like water damage or leaks won’t be noticed as quickly if they occur on a porch roof. Understanding how to know when your porch needs a new roof is important, not only to preserve your porch, but to protect your home from being damaged.

Why porch roof maintenance is important

Having an appealing roof is crucial for the value and curb appeal of any home. While many people might think of landscaping, stonework, and paint jobs as the only exterior house elements to maintain, the roof is one of the most noticeable aspects of any property.

Your roof is also an essential element of the structural integrity of your home. When the roof over your porch starts deteriorating, it might indicate that your roof needs maintenance in other areas. A well-maintained roof can protect your home and preserve the investment you made in your porch’s roof. 

While porches can add a lot of value to a home, porches with problems can do the opposite. They can present a costly problem for a homeowner or even drag down the value of a home. Some ways that porch issue can impact the rest of the home can include:

• Reduced Curb Appeal – A porch that is rotten or sagging, or with holey or torn screens is a porch that is an eyesore. And nothing will bring down the curb appeal, and therefore the value of a home, faster than a sketchy-looking porch.
• Spreading Rot – If rot has set in on a porch, it’s only a matter of time before it spreads to the rest of the house. And once that happens, a problem that may have been a cheaper and easier fix could quickly become a costly, high-effort repair.
• Increased Utilities – When the enclosure of an enclosed porch fails in one way or another, a host of other problems can spring up, from higher heat bills to insect and pest control bills.

It doesn’t take much to keep a porch in good working order, so try not to ignore any warning signs or regular maintenance needs. Problems that start out small and simple in your roof can quickly and easily grow into something larger and more costly.

Now that you know the importance of keeping up with roof repairs, read on for some of the most common repair warning signs we see in porches across Memphis!

Bulges, Stains, and Dips 

Visible bulges, stains or dips in your porch roof are indicators that water damage is most likely present, and that your roof should be inspected and repaired as soon as possible. Water damage can cause the roof to deteriorate, and lead to continued leaks, mold, and other forms of serious water damage. 

Damaged or Cracked Shingles

If the shingles on your porch roof have visible cracks or other damage, it’s time for a roof inspection. Missing or damaged shingles are unable to protect your roof as well, and over time, can lead to water damage, leaks and more extensive shingle damage. 

It is best to address this as soon as possible, in order to maintain the structural integrity of your roof. 

Shingle Debris In The Porch Gutters 

Finally, it is important to pay attention to the debris that you find in your gutters. If you notice excess debris that looks like small, black pebbles, that is a tell-tale sign that your roof needs an inspection and possible repairs or replacement. Large pieces of shingle debris means the shingles have been damaged to the point of breaking off, and therefore are likely not protecting your porch like they are supposed to. 

Protect your porch with Pinnacle Roofing

With all the above in mind, if your porch’s roof has been around for 15 to 20 years, you should consider replacing it. Roofing materials have a lifespan of around 20 years, and can fail rapidly and catastrophically after that 20-year mark. 

If your porch roof is showing the above signs of damage, or has been covering your porch for 15-20 years, contact the professionals at Pinnacle Roofing for a free roofing estimate!