Like our customers, we're no fans of scare tactics at First Quality Roofing & Insulation. But cautionary tales? We think they can be valuable, especially when they originate with customers who have learned a roofing lesson the hard way.

This is why when a homeowner called this week to remind us of what happened to him the last time Las Vegas was drenched with heavy rains, his words carried extra meaning in light of the city's most recent record-breaking rainfall: “I hope you're telling people not to take chances with their roof like I did – to get their roof inspected by you guys. I don't want what happened to me to happen to other people.”

Learn these vital roofing lessons

This homeowner learned not one but five costly lessons in one fell swoop:

• Do not underestimate signs of water damage; if anything even relatively small in size adjacent to your roof looks suspicious, schedule an inspection with the best roofers in Las Vegas immediately.
• A small roof problem usually develops into a bigger one.
• Water doesn't always flow straight down; it can take one of many invasive paths.
• Factors such as clogged gutters, which you can clearly see, as well as those that require a trained eye, such as popped nails and deteriorating flashing, can conspire to threaten the integrity of a roof.
• Older roofs – or those 15 years old and older – require more attention after heavy rains than newer roofs.

This could happen to anyone

Remember that it's usually in retrospect that many “mistakes” seem oh-so-obvious. In the here-and-now, however, some problems can even be viewed as opportunities. And so it was with this homeowner, who noticed but chose to ignore a small patch of discoloration on the ceiling in his family room.

Since he and his wife wanted to paint the room anyway, the solution seemed obvious: simply “paint over” the discoloration. And so they did, admittedly in a bit of a hurry to get the job done and without embarking on a serious look at what might be causing the discoloration in the first place.

Instead of solving the problem, it got worse. Within days, the paint cracked and bubbled and “seemed to take on a life of its own” as it spread, the homeowner said.

At this point, it did cross the homeowner's mind that recent heavy rains might have damaged his roof and ceiling. But because his roof was pitched, the homeowner assumed that rain water simply would slide off the roof and into the gutters.

The best roofers in Las Vegas can spare you this lesson

The homeowner had underestimated the veracity of his 23-year-old roof. First Quality roofers in Las Vegas later discovered that the roof was missing the weatherproofing power of flashing around the skylights as well as many shingles – some of which were lodged in the gutters and contributing to a buildup of water on the roof. With nowhere else to go, the water had found its way into the family room ceiling and even compromised some of the room's electrical functions.

“It was a financial train wreck,” the homeowner said, lamenting his oversight in getting his roof inspected as soon as he noticed the small patch of discoloration on the ceiling. “I tried to save some money (on a roof inspection) and ended up spending thousands in repairs.”

You can learn – and act on – this cautionary tale by exercising caution with your roof. Contact First Quality Roofing & Insulation to schedule a roof inspection so that we prevent the recent heavy rains from unleashing a deluge of bad fortune upon you.