KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR
8 WARNING SIGNS OF ROOF DAMAGE
Spot the problem before it reaches your ceiling. These are the eight signs our inspectors look for, and what each sign means for your roof and your insurance claim.
Not a franchise. Not a storm chaser. Licensed, bonded & insured in Illinois · Lic. #104.015004
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Repairs are priced up front: shingle blow‑offs from $450 · fascia from $750 · leak diagnosis $125 trip + $125/hr. Full‑replacement estimates & storm inspections stay free.
SINCE 1999
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Lic. #104.015004
SERVING NAPERVILLE · AURORA · PLAINFIELD · OSWEGO · YORKVILLE · BATAVIA · GENEVA · ST. CHARLES · ELGIN & SURROUNDING AREAS
DAMAGE RARELY ANNOUNCES ITSELF
Typical roof damage comes from severe weather, and it can support an insurance claim, like a hail-damage roof claim. But after a storm, the signs may not show up until years later, when a leak finally appears in your ceiling.
That’s why a trained specialist should inspect your roof if you suspect damage. Below are the eight warning signs we look for on inspections. If you can check any of them off from the ground, it’s time to call.
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THE 8 WARNING SIGNS
See something familiar? Don’t wait on it.
CEILING SPOTS
Caused by roof leaks. Check the attic and crawl space, flashing at chimneys and vents, and eaves for water backing up from ice dams.
DAMAGED FLASHING
Improper installation on new roofs, drying and cracking on old ones. Often repairable without replacing the roof.
MISSING SHINGLES
Caused by improper fastening or wind damage. Individual shingles can usually be replaced.
BUCKLING & CURLING
Improperly applied felt, deck movement, or under-saturated asphalt felt. A sign your roof needs professional eyes.
BLISTERING
Moisture in the shingle or application over a wet deck, often tied to inadequate ventilation.
FUNGUS GROWTH
Airborne fungi or algae deposited on the roof. An appearance problem: it doesn’t shorten the roof’s life, but worth confirming.
MISSING GRANULES
Some loose granules are normal on a new roof. On an aging roof, bare spots signal it’s time to plan replacement.
ROTTING
Moisture absorbed by the shingle mat, a common problem with organic-based shingles, and one that spreads.
WHAT KIND OF STORM HIT YOU?
Different damage leaves different fingerprints. Match yours.
HAIL DAMAGE
Bruises, dents, and granule loss you can’t see from the ground.
Learn more →
WIND DAMAGE
Lifted, creased, and missing shingles after high winds.
Learn more →
STORM DAMAGE
How we handle the damage AND the insurance claim, start to finish.
Learn more →
CATCHING ROOF PROBLEMS WHILE THEY’RE STILL SMALL
Almost every expensive roof repair we’re called out to started as something cheap that nobody noticed. A cracked pipe boot is a small job. The same boot two years later, having quietly soaked the decking and the insulation below it, is not.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR FROM THE GROUND
You don’t need to climb anything. Walk the perimeter of the house and look up. You’re checking for shingles that sit unevenly or curl at the corners, dark patches where granules have worn away, anything visibly lifted along the ridge or the edges, and sagging anywhere in the roof line. Then look in the gutters: a build-up of granules that looks like coarse sand is the roof telling you it’s wearing out.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR INSIDE
The attic is often where a roof problem announces itself first. On a bright day, look for daylight coming through the boards. Look for staining or streaking on the underside of the decking and on the rafters, for insulation that is matted or damp, and for any musty smell. Inside the house, look at ceilings and the tops of walls, especially near chimneys and in rooms directly under a valley.
WHEN TO CALL SOMEBODY
Straight away if there is active water coming in, if you can see daylight through the roof deck, or if a storm has just gone through and you can see missing or displaced shingles. Sooner rather than later if the roof is past fifteen years old, if granule loss is obvious, or if you’ve had ice dams in previous winters — that last one is usually a ventilation problem, and it will recur every year until it’s addressed.
If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, that’s exactly what the free inspection is for. We would rather tell you the roof is fine than have you find out the hard way that it wasn’t.
ROOF DAMAGE QUESTIONS
How often should a roof be inspected?
Once a year is sensible in this climate, and again after any severe storm. Illinois roofs take freeze-thaw cycling all winter and hail and straight-line winds through spring and summer. An annual look catches small problems while they’re still small. Our inspection is free.
What does granule loss actually mean?
Those granules are the shingle’s sunscreen. They shield the asphalt mat from UV, and once they’re gone the mat starts to dry out, harden and crack. A few granules in the gutter after a new roof is normal shedding. Steady accumulation, or visible bare patches on the shingle, means the roof is losing its protection.
Is a small leak really urgent?
Yes, more than it looks. Water travels along decking and rafters before it shows up on a ceiling, so by the time you see a stain it has usually been wet up there for a while. Wet insulation stops insulating, wet decking softens, and persistently damp framing invites mould. A small leak dealt with promptly is a small job.
What are ice dams and do they mean my roof is bad?
An ice dam forms when heat escaping into the attic melts snow on the upper roof, the water runs down to the cold eave and refreezes, and the resulting ridge of ice backs water up under the shingles. It’s usually a ventilation and insulation problem rather than a shingle problem, which is why proper intake and exhaust ventilation matters as much as what’s on top.
Can I just have the damaged section repaired?
Often, yes. It depends on the age of the roof, how far the damage extends and whether the decking is sound. We’ll tell you honestly when a repair is the sensible answer — we’re not going to sell you a roof you don’t need — and equally when patching something is only going to buy a season.
What areas do you serve?
We work throughout the Fox Valley: Naperville, Aurora, Plainfield, Oswego, Yorkville, Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Elgin and the surrounding communities. If you’re not sure whether you’re in our area, just ask.
WHAT YOUR NEIGHBORS SAY
Real reviews from homeowners across the Fox Valley.
★★★★★
“AAA came to our home for a small roof repair. They matched the shingles perfectly and completed the job for the exact amount quoted. I would recommend AAA to everyone looking for quality work.”
Guy Lieser · Google Review
★★★★★
“When our roof was damaged by a hail storm, we started searching for a quality roofing contractor. Our search stopped when we found AAA Roofing Company. Scott Cosentino and his crew were professional from start to finish.”
Dean Summerfield · Google Review
★★★★★
“I have used AAA Roofing for my roof and for repairs. I am very pleased with the quality of thework they have done for me.”
Bob Becker · Google Review
Get a Straight Answer From a Local Roofer
Book a free inspection online, or call and talk to someone who has worked on Fox Valley roofs since 1999.
✓ Free Estimates · ✓ Licensed, Bonded & Insured · ✓ Family-Owned Since 1999
Get Your Free Roof Inspection
Three quick questions. No high-pressure sales, ever.
Tell Us About Your Roof
Answer three quick questions. No high-pressure sales, ever.
Repairs are priced up front: shingle blow‑offs from $450 · fascia from $750 · leak diagnosis $125 trip + $125/hr. Full‑replacement estimates & storm inspections stay free.
ACCURATE · ACCOUNTABLE · AFFORDABLE
Serving Naperville, Aurora, Plainfield, Oswego, Yorkville, Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Elgin IL and surrounding areas since 1999.
Residential Roofing Specialists IL Lic # 104.015004
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1750 West Ogden Avenue, #2761
Naperville, IL 60540
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Roof replacement, repairs, storm damage, siding, gutters and windows — family-owned and serving the Fox Valley since 1999. Call us, or send the form and a real person from our Sugar Grove office will get back to you.
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ROOFING | SIDING | GUTTERS | WINDOWS | HAIL DAMAGE | WIND DAMAGE | STORM DAMAGE