It’s one of those things we take for granted—our roof helps keep us warm, protects us from the elements, and safeguards the interior of our homes. However, roofs aren’t invincible, and the older a roof is, the more it’s at risk of giving way and collapsing. While it’s extremely rare for a roof to simply give way right on top of your head, keeping an eye out for structural damage is important. Fortunately, there are a few easy-to-spot warning signs that your roof is structurally unsound and about to collapse.

New Sounds

Your roof won’t collapse without giving you some serious warning signs. New creaking, popping, or squeaking sounds are among the most blaring and common indicators of imminent roof collapse. These sounds won’t be quiet either; they’ll be loud and hard to ignore. Usually, people may chalk up these sounds to aging or foundation settling. However, if they worsen during or after storms or come paired with the visual signs we’ll discuss, you should have a professional inspect your roof immediately.

Interior or Exterior Cracks

Any cracks in the exterior masonry or the interior walls and ceilings are serious warning signs that your roof is about to collapse. While there’s a chance this could be due to the foundation, it’s a sign of structural weakness regardless of origin. These cracks can easily spread to other areas and worsen during or after weather events like rain or snow. Cracks may also indicate that your roof is too heavy. And if your roof is too weak to hold up the weight of your shingles, roof collapse is imminent.

Leaks and Water Damage

In many instances, roof leaks start out small, and in turn, they may not seem like a serious problem. However, roof leaks are some of the most important roof issues you shouldn’t ignore because the wooden structure of your roof is susceptible to water damage. Wood is a porous material, which means it will absorb the water it comes into contact with.

Over time, this leads to swelling, weakening, and rot. What’s worse is if you live in colder regions, any water your wood absorbs won’t just cause swelling. It’ll freeze within the wood and cause serious cracks.

Hard-To-Open Doors and Windows

Hard-to-open doors and windows are another one of those signs that people dismiss as natural due to age. You may also find that this tends to occur during seasonal changes, but it shouldn’t be permanent. If one of your doors or windows is suddenly difficult to open and doesn’t seem to be getting better, this is likely due to structural shifting. Again, this may indicate a foundation issue, but regardless of the reason, you need to contact a roof inspector immediately.

Sagging or Bending

Remember—a roof collapse will rarely ever happen out of the blue. If you notice your roof is slowly starting to bend or sag, you can be sure that roof collapse is impending. Bending and sagging indicate that your roof is experiencing an excessive load it simply cannot handle. This could be from snow, ice, poor installation, too many shingles, or weak walls. Only a professional can determine the cause of a sagging roof, and it’s never a good idea to get on your roof when you suspect structural damage. Your safety comes first, so let the professionals handle your roof inspection and repair needs.

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