Don’t make the mistake of waiting until your roof looks so bad, or sprouts a leak, before deciding whether it’s time to have it fixed or replaced. That’s like waiting until you are next to death before visiting a doctor. Smart consumers get regular medical checkups to stay healthy. They also routinely inspect their roofs to see if minor or even major repairs are in order.
And, just like human bodies, every roof is different. Some are more solidly constructed and don’t need as much maintenance. Others need to be watched closely for signs of decay and degradation. No matter what type of roof you have, it’s a good idea to check on some common things that tend to be telltale signs of trouble.
By regularly inspecting your roof, you’ll be like the smart patient who keeps lists of symptoms and maintains an accurate medical history. How many times have we heard of a life saved because a disease was, “caught in the early stages”? It’s the same with your roof!
Do the following six simple things on a regular basis and you’ll catch little problems before they turn into big, expensive ones.
1. First, take a look at the so-called “valleys” of your roof. These are low areas where two flat segments meet. They tend to accumulate dust, dirt, leaves and other debris. If shingles are missing or rotting in this area, you might want to ask a pro whether you need a new roof or not.
2. Do a thorough, up-close and all-around inspection of your roof and see whether there are any missing shingles. One or two are not usually a problem, but if you notice lots of bare spots where shingles have fallen off or rotted away completely, you’ll at least need to replace them. A professional can tell you whether the missing shingles allowed water to get into areas where it can do further damage.
3. Find your best magnifying glass and look inside your gutter for shingle grains (the sand-like exterior specks on most house shingles). Do this when there has been no rain for at least a week. Do you see grains in the gutter? If so, that is a sure sign your shingles are ready to be replaced.
4. Put the magnifying glass away and step back from your house. Walk around to the areas that get the most direct sunlight on the roof. How do the shingles look? Are they faded, losing their covering or, worse, buckling? This part of your roof really tells the story about how well the shingles are holding up. Note any damage, buckling, splitting, curling and even discoloration of the shingles.
5. Take a trip up to your attic (or whatever is the highest interior portion of your home). Make note of any daylight that seeps through the main boards of the roof. Run your bare hand (gently) along the inside of the roof to test for moisture.
6. Finally, write in your notebook the age (if you know it) of your roof. Most experts agree that 20 years is a good benchmark age for replacing a roof.
After doing the six things listed above, if you have any concern about your roof, or saw things you didn’t understand, speak with a local professional who can do a routine roof inspection. Be sure to tell the inspector what you found on your preliminary walk-through. This will be of great value in assessing whether or not you need a new roof.