In this installment of our series on roofing problems, we’ll talk about the importance of inspecting your roof, and some tips for doing it.
Inspecting your roof can extend its life. It’s like keeping an eye on your roof’s general ‘health’.
Why inspect your roof? It ages just like any other materials, and with time, your roof may develop a leak. In addition, storms and bad weather can loosen tiles and shingles and blow them right off your roof.
Trees and debris can fall on the roof (even when it’s not storming) and damage shingles and gutters, leading to problems.
Maintenance done, or new equipment fitted on your roof, like a satellite dish, solar panels, or even an air conditioner, can sometimes cause unintentional damage to the roof.
Leaving it too long before repairing your roof can cost you more in the long run. Your roof is the first line of shelter from the elements, and it’s important that it stays in good condition.
The Fix
Check on the general state of your roof twice a year, once in the summer and once in the winter – but do it from solid ground.
Make a quick inspection after a bad storm, to make sure all your shingles are still in place. Walk around your house on the ground and look up on the roof for damage, broken or missing shingles, and debris.
Keep an eye on stained or weathered areas of your roof – they may need replacing soon.
Don’t neglect missing or broken shingles. They’ll already be letting water in, and while it may be a slow trickle at first, it will be doing damage inside your roof system long before you notice water dripping inside your home.
A professional roof inspection will call out all the potential issues and will find the point of entry of water (which can sometimes be far from the actual leak).
Stay tuned, in the coming weeks, for the next installments in our series on roof problems.
Other posts in the Roofing Problems series:
