Most homeowners recognize that their roof plays a necessary and crucial role in maintaining the integrity of their homes. Yet, missing shingles on roof may not feel like a crisis to most homeowners. It’s just a few shingles, right?
After all, high winds can take a few shingles off of any house. It’s the reason why wind damage is one of the most common home insurance claims.
Unfortunately, missing shingles are not as harmless as they might seem. Keep reading to discover the potential consequences of those missing shingles on your roof.
Leaking
One of the most common problems associated with missing shingles is that they can create leaks in your home. Even worse, it can happen with just one shingle missing on roof.
These leaks can leave you with unwanted moisture in your attic that might encourage mold or mildew growth. It can damage the insulation in your attic. If the leak goes on long enough, it can damage your ceilings or walls, and even pose a threat to your electrical system.
Structural Damage
If you don’t repair missing shingles on roof and there’s a bad leak, it can go beyond mere cosmetic damage. All of that water can start to erode the structure of your home, such as beams and the boards in your walls. It can even cause damage to your foundation over time.
As costly as cosmetic repairs inside the home can get, they’re nothing compared with the costs of making structural repairs. That’s assuming structural repairs are even possible.
Reduced Property Value
Missing shingles can also put a hit on your overall property value. At a minimum, they damage your curb appeal. The last thing potential buyers want to see when they drive up to a house is a roof that looks old or damaged.
You can also expect any sale will include the cost of hiring a roofer to fix missing shingles on the roof or replace the roof entirely. You may also end up on the hook for more internal repairs. All of that means you get less from any sale.
Insurance Problems
Assuming your missing shingles came from something like high winds, there is a good chance that your home insurance will cover it. However, if you leave the shingles unrepaired for a while and leaks damage the interior of your home, most insurance companies will deny the claim. They’ll view those as damages you could have avoided by fixing the roof.
Deal with Missing Shingles on Roof Quickly
You should deal with missing shingles on roof quickly. Otherwise, you can face a host of problems down the road.
You may see a leak in the roof, which can cause all kinds of damage inside. Ignore it long enough, and those leaks can cause structural damage as well.
You can take a hit on your property value and find that your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover damages if you wait to repair the roof.
Looking for more home maintenance and repair tips? Check out the posts in our Home Improvement section.
