5 Risks Associated With An Older Roof (1)

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5 Risks Associated With An Older Roof
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• Roofs that are between 15 and 20 years old are
  generally considered to be older, and oftentimes,
  when roofs reach this age, they can start to show
  signs of wear and tear. While some of these signs
  may not give immediate cause for concern, many
  can lead to bigger, costlier problems as time
  goes by, and are worth addressing early on.
• If your roof is reaching its twilight years, here
  are 5 signs of wear and tear to keep an eye out
  for

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• 1. Issues with the shingles
• Helping to keep the structural components of a
  roof protected from the elements, shingles can
  easily become damaged or slip off, exposing the
  roof to the risks of water damage.
• Old and worn shingles can cause any of the
  following problems
• If they start absorbing moisture, they can become
  rotten or prone to a build-up of mold and algae
• Prolonged, strong winds can weaken shingles until
  they blow off the roof
• Once they start to lose granules, shingles are
  not able to give your roof (and ultimately, the
  building below it) the protection it needs

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• 2. Reduced protection against the weather
• An old or damaged roof can easily be affected by
  the weather
• a loss of shingles can lead to a reduced ability
  to protect against the elements
• if the structure of a roof becomes weakened over
  time, it could collapse in the event of extreme
  weather conditions
• any rainfall on a damaged or old roof can lead to
  leaks, which can be costly and inconvenient to
  repair

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• 3. Potential fire hazards
• While you might not immediately see the risk of
  fire hazards presented by a leak, this is how
  they can lead to them
• If water gets into a building through the roof,
  it can cause damage to wiring and electrical
  outlets, and ultimately, present a risk of fire
• In a similar vein, wiring that gets wet can
  easily short circuit and cause sparks to fly,
  which in turn, can cause a fire to break out.

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• 4. Pest infestations
• When a roof ages it can become brittle, and when
  this happens, pests such as rodents and
  cockroaches will find it easier to enter your
  home through any weakened or damaged parts of the
  roof. Unfortunately, once pests have made your
  home their home, they can be troublesome to
  eliminate, and go on to cause all manner of
  problems, particularly ones related to health.

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• 5. An increase in energy bills
• A roof that has been installed properly and well
  maintained over the years, can still keep a
  building insulated cooler during the summer and
  warmer during the winter. However, the minute a
  roof starts to deteriorate or develop any kind of
  age-related problem, the chances of it having an
  impact on your heating and cooling bills,
  increases significantly.
• Damaged or missing shingles can expose your roofs
  insulation to the elements, and excess water will
  mean that its unable to perform its role of
  insulating your home, effectively. Then, as your
  HVAC system is forced to work harder to control
  the temperature inside the building, youll
  likely notice your energy bills going up.

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• Having your roof checked over by a roofing
  professional once it begins to age, can help you
  avoid costly repairs further down the line. For
  example, if your roof has exceeded its expected
  lifespan (an average of 20 years), the
  manufacturers warranty may well have expired and
  any ensuing repairs will have to be paid for out
  of your own pocket. Additionally, if your old
  roof or one with an expired warranty, has
  suffered damage that wasnt your fault, you may
  find that your insurer is unwilling to pay out.

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• At I.T.M Construction Corp. is one of the best
  general contractors in Astoria, Queens NY. Our
  family owned and operated business has been
  providing valued clients in Astoria, Queens and
  beyond, with a variety of high quality
  construction and roofing services for almost two
  decades. Whatever your needs, weve got a skilled
  contractor to handle them, and with fair pricing
  and quality workmanship. If you are looking for
  roofing repair contractors in Astoria, NY,
  contact us at 718-956-8483.