Inspecting Your Roof
How's Your Roof?All winter long the roof is subjected to elements which can take their toll on the covering and in some cases the structure. The snow, freezing rain, winds, extreme cold, ice damming and snow loads all take their toll on the roof and roof structure.
The summer is even harder on the roof surface. The intense heat, the sun’s ultra violet rays, heavy rains and winds can have a worse effect on your shingles that the snow and ice. To determine the condition of your roof, an inspection is required.
How often should you inspect your roof?
Once or twice a year is a rule of thumb but that may not be enough. Severe weather, b winds, sleet and other similar conditions can damage the roof at any time. It is always good practice to inspect the roof after severe weather along with bi-yearly inspections.
How to inspect the roof
There are several ways to inspect a roof. One way is to climb up onto the roof and walk over its surface taking every precaution and observing safety at all times. This may not always be safe to do so (steep sloped roofs, wet or slippery roofs, metal, clay, wooden or concrete roofs) and you may not be comfortable with climbing onto high places to do look at your roof.
A good pair of binoculars may be all you need to see the condition of the roof from all the sides of the home however depending on the design of your roof, the binoculars might not be enough. Flat roof require that you go onto the roof to inspect it. If you simply don’t feel capable of inspecting your own roof for whatever the reason (slope, height, no ladder, etc….), you can contact a roofing contractor or a building inspector to come and do it for you.
What to look for
1. Start by looking at the discharge of you downspouts and gutters. Asphalt shingles have their surface covered with granule looking very much like fine gravel. As the shingles age, small cracks develop which combined with the harsh elements, cause the granules to loosen up and fall from the surface. Rain water sweeps the granules down the roof, into you gutters. Some stay there while others flow into the downspouts and end up on your drive, garden and concrete splash pads. If you see lots of these granules in these locations it may be a sign that your shingles are approaching the end of their life span. On flat roofs, make sure there is no debris around the drain or accumulated in the corners.
2. Look at the roof’s flashing. Flashing is the metal which is installed around chimneys, dormer windows, brick to roof meeting points and roof penetrations. Ice and winds can lift the flashing and in extreme cases even rip it off. When this happens, openings are created which can let rain and snow get at the wooden structure and cause damage. Gaps from missing or dry caulking around the flashing will also allow moisture to enter areas and cause damage to the roof structure and possibly even to the interior of the home.
3. Look for curling and cracks of the end of the shingles. Age and overheating of the shingle during summer can cause this to happen. In some cases patches or sections of missing granules can be seen due to aging. Improper attic ventilation can make the problem worse since the shingles overheat from the inside also.
4. Tree limbs can not only cause damage from rubbing over the roof and falling onto the roof, but also can get under the shingles. Tree branches should be kept at least 3 feet from the roof surface.
If you have any questions about your roof, you should contact your building inspector who will give you an unbiased opinion about your roof. A roofer might make the roof seem worse then it is hoping to get a job out of the inspection.