Inspecting the home’s roof is not necessarily a thing that homeowners do very often. Most of the time, people may glance over their roofline quickly – but that’s about it when it comes to a roof. What most homeowners may not know is that regular roof inspections and then smaller fixes are essential to keep the roof in top shape and to protect against any costly repair costs in the future.
Only regular inspections can keep your home dry and cozy (who would want it to rain right into the house due to a faulty roof?). Roof inspections will likewise be a good thing to do in order to keep your home’s worth and value high for many years.
The question here is what to look for when inspecting a roof. The National Roofing Contractors Association says that it is a good idea to have regular roof inspections twice per year. Ideally, this should be done in the spring and the fall. Furthermore, the Association gives the tip that the roof inspection should always start from the inside of the home.
Armed with a flashlight in your attic, you should look out for the following things:
1) Do you see any spaces where the roof may be sagging?
2) Check for leaks and obvious water damage on floors and walls.
3) Look for unusual patches and spots.
4) Do you see obvious cracks and holes in your roof?
Checking your home’s roof from the outside
The next step will be to check your roof’s condition from the outside of your home. Here you can look for missing shingles, blistering, curling, and signs of rot or mold.
But there is more you should look for when you inspect your roof from the outside:
5) Go around your home and look for missing or damaged shingles.
6) Look around whether you can spot loose material around crucial sections such as your home’s chimney or vents.
7) One of the signs to know whether your roof needs repair is shingle granules. The granules look like grey sand, and you may spot them in your home’s gutters, where they usually accumulate.
8) You should check your entire roof for signs of rot, mold, and moisture. Note that those spots are not necessarily always right below the damaged section of the roof. Water may well flow from the roof to other areas, which means that the actual roof damage might be in an entirely different location.
9) Check your home’s pipes and drainage. Those should always be clear and free of debris.
10) Make sure that all your vents, such as those in the kitchen or the bathroom, do actually go outside. Vents that end up inside the attic as supposed to outside your home should be fixed.
It’s also important that homeowners know about the materials used on their roof. Those roofing materials may often decide the lifespan of a roof.
When your home has a tile roof, you should regularly look for broken or cracked tiles. But you should not walk on the roof so as to prevent damage to the tiles.
Otherwise, tile roofs can last a very long time, sometimes up to 100 years. Damage usually occurs to individual tiles, which then can be replaced relatively easily.
Wooden roofs demand special attention since they are prone to damage from insects such as termites or ants.
Not all types of roof damage will necessarily mean a great expense and would require a complete roof replacement. The majority of roofs that are less than 20 years old will in all likelihood not need replacement. In such cases, the roof can likely be repaired instead.
Never attempt to carry out roof repairs on your own, and always choose a reputable roofing company. Let them advise you on what needs to be done and have them provide you with estimates for their work.
What to Do If Your Roof Needs To Be Replaced
Always know that the materials for your roof will be very important. The materials that are used will, for the largest part, depend on your home’s locality.
Some roofing materials are less suitable than others. For example, a roof that may not be very resistant to fire would not be recommended in an area that is prone to frequent fires in the area. If you live in such an area, you should consider fire-resistant materials such as metal or tile.
Similar considerations must be made if you live in an area that will get heavy snowfall in the winter. The roof will need to withstand the heavyweight of the snow. In such cases, you will want a metal roof, and lighter roofing materials may not be suitable.
Selecting the materials for the roof will also mean considering your home’s framing. You cannot assume that any type of roofing material will be suitable for just about any home’s structure. Some materials such as tile or slate may be too heavy for your home’s framing.
Prevention Is Always Better Than Needing To Replace Your Entire Roof
With regular roof inspections (as we mentioned earlier above), you will be able to spot problems quickly before they may lead to even more damage to your roof. A small crack or hole is easily fixed. If, however you wait a long time, the damage will become substantially more, and so will your roofing repair expenses.
Know that your home’s roof is one of the most essential parts of your home. A roof that is in good shape is not only a matter of aesthetics: The roof protects your home along with anyone who lives inside. The roof will keep your home comfortable as long as you keep an eye on it and have any problems fixed right away.
If you believe you may need a new roof, or if you are having any problems with your roof, just give us a call at (956) 279-8292. We would be more than happy to have one of our roofing experts come out and inspect your roof free of charge.
