A Roof Inspection Can Save You Problems & Money
Over time, your roof experiences the same aging problems as the rest of your home. Shingles and flashing expand and contract as the temperatures change. Storms hurl debris onto your roof, falling limbs or hail can wear down the materials on your roof. Here in Northeast Florida, the hot sun and long summers mean the life of a roof is shorter than some other places, and you should begin considering a re-roof after about 15 years. Regular roof inspection can give you peace of mind and spot problems early. 
You can do a quick roof inspection yourself to assess any visible damage, but it is best to have a professional roof inspection if you have any suspicion of damage. An annual roof check is recommended for every homeowner, as it is much less costly to make small repairs than it is to wait until you have leaks or major damage.
First, walk around your home, checking for pieces of the shingles – called granules – that are lying on the top of the roof or that may have been washed down your downspouts. This is a common sign of damaged shingles. You can use binoculars to inspect the top of the roof. Also, look inside the home and on the soffits under the roof for signs of leaks that would include brown spots on the ceiling, peeling paint underneath the overhang of the roof, and water stains on your pipes.
Next, if you want to get a closer look, you will need a ladder to continue the roof inspection. Because this is a frequent cause of home accidents, we recommend you not do this unless you are comfortable and experienced in climbing. It is much safer to call an experienced professional roofer.
However, if you do decide to go up on the ladder and do a roof inspection, make sure you do not walk on the roof when the shingles are very hot or very cold as this can damage them. In fact, try not to walk on the shingles at all if you can avoid it. You are looking for shingles that are loose, missing, rolling up at the edges or missing the granules on top. If your roof has been previously repaired, you will see signs of that since the materials used to patch roofs age and discolor over time.
What To Look For When Inspecting Your Roof
Check for any areas of the roof that may be sagging or for shingles that may not be applied in with straight lines along the edges. Look at the metal flashing that surrounds any vents in the roof to see if they are curled or missing. Check gutters to be sure they are not rusty, pulling away from the structure or otherwise damaged. If you have a chimney, look for cracked, damaged or missing bricks or stucco, and bent or torn flashing around the base.
Other signs to watch for include:
- rust spots on flashing
- worn areas around chimneys, skylights or piles
- black or green algae stains
- gaps between the metal flashing and the shingles
- popped nails
- cracks or gaps in the rubber around plumbing vent pipes
- dampness around fireplaces
- Moss
- thick piles of leaves or debris
By doing a roof inspection every year, you can reduce the chance of a major problem down the road and save yourself money. Be sure to call DUBO Roofing for roof inspections when you a purchasing a new home, selling a new home or need an inspection for insurance purposes.
