Since most of us have a little more time at home these days, we wanted to challenge every homeowner to perform a spring roof check. It will only take a few minutes and it’s a great habit to start doing, not just every spring, but at least twice a year and after every storm. Ideally you should have binoculars and a ladder that can reach as high as your gutters. If you already know you have a roof leak, call a roof repair company and they’ll perform a complete inspection for you.
Step 1
Walk around your home and visually inspect your shingles. Things that may indicate an issue include:
- Shingles that curl up at the ends – This can indicate your roof is nearing the end of its life.
- Misaligned shingles – Call a roof repair company as this means you have loose or poorly installed shingles and may soon have missing shingles or a roof leak.
- Cracked or split shingles – Another sign your roof is nearing the end of its life
- Missing shingles – Your roofer can likely determine why they’re missing and replace them.
- Bent or missing flashing – Most flashing is metal and prevents water from getting into your home around chimneys and dormers, if yours doesn’t look right, contact your roof repair company.
Step 2
Climb the ladder and look in your gutters. First, they should be clean so that when the spring rains arrive, they can do their job. Second, look for shingle granules in the gutters. If you see more than a few, you may need a roof replacement as the granules are an important part of the shingle and excess granules signal an issue. Lastly, look at the gutters and fascia to which they are attached. Your gutters should be firmly attached to solid fascia board. If you notice they’re loose or the fascia is rotted, you need to contact your roof repair company.
Step 3
Now it’s time to head inside and look in your attic for signs of a roof leak. The freeze-thaw process that happens over the winter can help a small hole in your roof grow which can mean significant damage down the road. Look for light coming in through your roof, especially around any exhaust pipes or venting. Also look for staining on the inside of your roof deck which can indicate a roof leak. Check your insulation that it is all level. Compact insulation is a sign its been wet which likely means a roof leak. Lastly, look for signs of insects and rodents. They love to get into roofs and can cause significant damage.
If you find any of these signs that you may have a roof leak or need a roof replacement, call Peak Roofing Contractors at (703) 753-4585. You can trust us as your local roof repair company and more.
