As the summertime begins to creep up on us thick and fast, many homeowners are giving their homes a look over to see what needs fixing or replacing. As a leading roofing contractor for the Marlton, NJ community, our crew at Alan Cherry’s Exteriors knows a thing or two about how to spot an exterior amenity that could use an update.
Courtesy of our hardworking team, have a look at these signs that your home could use a makeover before the summer gets into full swing!
1. Your Siding is Cracked, Rotting, or Warped
This may be the most obvious sign that your home’s siding is beyond repair. Take a walk around your home for a thorough inspection, as even small cracks could point to a larger issue. Does the siding layer beneath feel solid, or does it give when you touch it? If there’s more extensive rot beneath the damaged portions of your siding, it may be time to call in the professionals.
2. Daylight is Shining Through Roof Boards
This is also a clear warning sign that your roof could use replacing, as this literally opens pathways for rain and snow to enter your home. If you see light streaming through the roof’s decking, this means that either the nails have fallen through or corrosive building materials have lost their weatherproofing properties, or even both, making a new roof not such a bad idea.
3. Bubbles or Blisters on Your Siding
If you find blisters or bubbling forming beneath your siding’s surface, make note that this a red flag. Such blisters indicate that water has become trapped within your siding, so you have a moisture problem. Because siding is designed to prevent moisture from entering your home to begin with, this is a good sign your siding is no longer doing its duty.
4. Mold or Mildew on Your Siding or Roof
Beware of fungus, mold, and other types of growth that appear on your roof or siding. These substances grow wherever moisture is found, indicating that their presence could signal that water is penetrating your home’s exterior. Although not all instances of fungus need cause alarm, they’re definitely worth further investigation.
5. Your Siding Frequently Needs Painting
Typically, most homes require a fresh painting every 8-10 years. If you find that you need to repaint your home much more often than that (say, every 3-6 years), the issue might not be the paint, but the siding beneath. Peeling or chipping paint is a strong indication it’s high time to replace your siding, and you might wish to consider siding with longer-lasting color and less required maintenance.
6. The Paint Inside Your Home is Peeling
Occasionally, low-quality siding on the outside of your home reveals itself within your home. If you see any loose wallpaper or peeled paint inside your home, it could indicate moisture is penetrating your siding and walls, causing significant damage inside your house.
7. Your Roof’s Shingles Are Curled or Buckled
Curled or buckled shingles are an obvious sign that your roof has aged quite a bit. Buckled shingles can happen due to moisture in your attic space forcing nails up and out of your roof’s decking. This can leave your home exposed to the outer elements and make shingles susceptible to blowing off during storms.
8. Your Roof is Missing Granules
Missing granules indicate that your roof is losing its weatherproofing properties. To check if you’re missing granules, have a look at your gutters for granule build up. You can also check on your downspout splash pan for granules by shaking it — if you hear a rattling sound, this is another telltale sign your shingles’ granules are falling off.
9. You Have Excessively High Energy Bills
If your heating and cooling bills seem too high, it may be due to energy escaping as a result of poor home ventilation and insulation, particularly in your attic or roof. If you notice that you have high energy bills along any of the above-listed warning signs, your current roof or siding might be under-performing.
10. Your Attic’s Temperature is Different from the Outdoor’s
Your attic’s temperature should be consistent with the temperature outdoors, as your attic should have sufficient ventilation to circulate air in and out. If your attic is warmer than the outdoor temperature, your home is susceptible to ice dams, and you might also see signs of peeling exterior paint due to inadequate attic ventilation.
To learn more about what our roofing contractors could do for your Medford, NJ home, we’d love to hear from you! Give us a call today at 267-356-4422.
