How To Spot A Failing Roof

Posted on: 26 February 2017

Putting a safe roof over your family's head should be a top priority. As a homeowner, you are responsible for ensuring that your home's roof remains in good condition. Maintaining a roof is an ongoing process, with the need for repairs and replacement always being a possibility. Learning to spot a failing roof is essential when it comes to caring for the structural integrity of your home.

Here are three tips that you can use to help you spot a failing roof before it turns into a serious hazard in the future.

1. Look for signs of faulty flashing.

The metal material used to seal off the base of your roof's chimney opening, ventilation stack, or HVAC opening can become damaged over time. When the flashing fails, water can seep into the roof decking and cause serious damage.

You can easily spot signs of faulty flashing by taking a trip into your home's attic on a sunny day. Turn all of the lights off, then take a close look at the underside of the chimney stack vent (and any other openings that have been cut into your roof to accommodate ventilation of HVAC systems). If you see tiny pinpoints of light in these areas, you will need to have a roofing contractor replace the flashing to restore a waterproof seal.

2. Look for shingle damage.

Keeping your roof's shingles in good repair is one of the easiest ways to prevent serious leaks from wreaking havoc on your home. Using a pair of binoculars, conduct a visual scan of your roof. Look for any shingles that are missing, bent, or curling up at the edges.

Be mindful of any dark spots where the granules on the shingles have started to wear away. If you see these signs of shingle damage when visually inspecting your roof, contacting a roofing professional to replace these damaged shingles with new ones in order to maintain the integrity of your home's roof.

3. Invest in routine inspections.

Paying a roofing contractor to inspect your home's roof on a regular basis can be a great way to spot a failing roof. Although modern roofing systems are designed to last anywhere from 20 to 40 years, a younger roof can fail.

A roofing company has the knowledge and experience required to spot the earliest signs of a failing roof, giving the option to make repairs before the entire roof needs to be replaced.

Learning to spot a failing roof will help you better provide for the maintenance needs of your home.

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Time for a New Roof?

Hi, my name is Mitch. Before retiring a few years ago, I worked in the roofing industry. Over the years, I worked in nearly every capacity, ranging from apprentice to general manager of the company. I know that purchasing a new roof for your home can be expensive and a bit intimidating. My goal is to provide useful advice to help you make informed decisions when it comes to your new roof. I'm going to share information about different roofing materials and why you may want to consider one over another. I'll also share where you can cut costs, and how to choose a reputable roofing company. I hope you find this information valuable.

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