Roof damage isn't always easy to spot, but when you know what to look out for, you can spot problems quickly and have your roof repaired before more serious damage can occur. Subtle signs of trouble can be anything from stains on your ceiling to moss growth on your roof, so here's what to look out for.

Stains on Your Ceiling

Signs of water leaking through your roof will often show up as brown or orange stains on the ceiling. Where these stains show up doesn't necessarily correspond to where the actual leak in your roof is, as water can travel some distance before settling. However, it does mean that enough water is getting into your roof to drip down to your ceiling below. If left alone, your roof could suffer from wood rot and your roof overall could weaken dangerously.

Roof Leaning or Caving Slightly

Sometimes damage to your roof can show itself directly through structural changes, even if they are barely noticeable at first. Every few months, and more often during rainy seasons, inspect your roof from multiple angles. Look for any signs that certain areas of the roof are caving in or leaning to one side. Caving and leaning tend to be symptoms of more serious problems, so if you don't see these signs, it at least means that any damage to your roof isn't causing drastic structure problems. Still, even without these signs, if you suspect any damage, make your sure roof is inspected quickly.

Shingle Granules in Gutters

A sudden and noticeable increase in shingle granules in your gutters or around downspouts could be a sign that your current roof is failing. Asphalt shingles lose some granules over time, but a sudden increase in granule loss could point to something causing physical damage to your shingles, or your shingles no longer being able to keep water out the way they should. If your roof is no longer watertight, there is a constant risk of water damage to the wood beneath.

Beyond having your attic and roof inspected, it's important to find out what might have been damaging your shingles to prevent the same thing from happening to new shingles once the old ones are replaced.

Moss Growing on Roof

Moss may look harmless, but it can signify damage to your roof, as well as damage your roof further if it isn't taken care of quickly. Moss growth causes two main problems: the retention of water and the disruption of shingles. Holding moisture on your roof rather than letting it drain away can cause water to soak through an otherwise waterproof shield, and as moss grows, its rhizoids—or root structure—can push up shingles, letting moisture in.

Getting rid of moss growth usually involves removing current growth as well as installing zinc rods on the top of your roof; when it rains, the zinc will spread over your roof and kill any remaining moss. However, if growth is present on your roof, you should still have the rest of it inspected to check for damage that may have been caused. To learn more, contact a roof repair service.