Whether you are a commercial or residential property owner, it is never easy to realize that your roof needs to be repaired or replaced. While some damage may be all but invisible and easily fixed, serious roof damage may extend into the structure of the roof itself—or worse, into the ceilings and walls of your building. The cost can be high, and the time required to plan repairs extensive. But with a company like WestBank Roofing, you don’t have to deal with this stress alone. Our expert roofing contractors are here to provide information, help you make decisions, and give back the sense of security lost due to roof damage. 

Signs of Roof Damage to Look Out For

When your roof has been compromised, there will often be signs throughout the building. If they are caught early, they may be confined to the roof and attic space—but the longer they go unnoticed or ignored, the further the damage can spread. And in a location as prone to humidity, wind and rain as New Orleans, ignoring a damaged roof can be especially dangerous. 

Some of the signs of roof damage to look out for include:

• A leaking roof, which may cause water to drip into your attic space or from your ceiling
• Water spots on the walls or ceiling
• Missing or damaged shingles
• Mold growth inside your home or where the roof and external wall meet. External mold in these areas may mean your roof’s flashing—thin metal which is placed around non-shingle surfaces on your roof to prevent leakage—has been damaged.
• Similarly, excessive algae or moss growth on the roof may be a sign of compromised or damaged roof shingles.
• A sagging roof deck, which may indicate that the structure of your roof has been weakened 
• Damage to your property’s fascia—the flat boards which sit vertically underneath roof overhangs. Compromised soffits—the material which connects to the fascia and exterior wall of your building, underneath the overhang, to prevent exposure of the eaves to the elements—may also be a sign of roof damage. If the fascia or soffit of your roof has been damaged or is missing entirely, water may be able to seep into your property. 

What Should Property Owners Do When They Spot Signs of Roof Damage?

If and when you notice signs of roof damage, it is time to call a roofing contractor. If the issues are minimal, it may be a quick and inexpensive repair that ensures your roof is once again structurally sound. More extensive deterioration, however, may be more than just costly—it may also pose a health and safety risk to your family, tenants, staff or customers. If you suspect the latter, consider staying elsewhere or shutting down in-person operations of your business until an inspector can assess your roof and property. 

While there is little you can do when the damage has already been done, there may be preventative measures you can take in the future, including:

• Ensuring that your roof has underlayment—a waterproof layer between the deck and shingles—installed
• Getting your roof cleaned in order to remove damaging moss and algae buildups 
• Making sure that your roof is properly ventilated 

The Importance of Scheduling Professional Roof Inspections

In an area like New Orleans, there are myriad ways for the climate to damage your home. Heat can weaken your tiles, tropical storms can compromise your roof and thus the interior of your property, and winds can batter your shingles and roof structure. As such, it is incredibly important for property owners to ensure that their buildings are structurally sound in order to prevent or minimize damage. 

While there are various preventative measures property owners can take, there is also one comprehensive measure which may address all of those actions and more. That is, professional roof inspections. Whether you schedule these visits as rarely as once a year or as often as once every few months, roof inspections can help keep you and your property safe and secure. Roof inspectors can look for any sources of concern, assess the overall structural integrity of your roof, and determine any roof repairs which need to be made. While it may seem like just another cost to add to the pile, roof inspections can help you find damage early or make you aware of any serious issues. 

What Support Services Does WestBank Roofing Offer?

At WestBank Roofing, we offer a variety of property protection and damage assessment and repair services in order to make sure that you, and your roof, are taken care of, including:

• Maintenance programs. Through our standard maintenance program, our roofing contractors will conduct an initial inspection before making a plan to visit between one and four times per year. Once an annual fee is agreed upon, payment is divided between the visits. For storm-damaged houses, those in our Standard Plus “Storm Watch” program will automatically be visited by our team following any major storms. Our contractors will assess your property and determine whether any work needs to be done.
• Professional roof repair and replacement services
• The GAF System Plus Limited Warranty, to help you protect one of your greatest investments—your property

Schedule a Roof Inspection with WestBank Roofing Today

At WestBank Roofing, we understand the anxieties that can surround roof maintenance. Roof inspections and repairs are just another cost to worry about, and it can seem easier to ignore the problem if it looks small. But while ignoring roof-related concerns may help you to save money in the short-term, allowing the damage to sit and potentially grow may cost you far more in the long run. And in an area like New Orleans, rain and wind can easily cause serious problems if roof issues are left unattended. So if you want to make sure that your roof—and your property—remain as safe and stable as possible, contact us and schedule a roof inspection today.