Roof Inspection Services

Roof Inspection Services

A roof inspection is one of those preventative maintenance jobs that's easy to overlook. Don't. Ideally, homeowners should inspect their roofs twice a year. But when a storm hits your area, have your roof inspected as well by a Certified ShingleMaster^TM. This allows you to document damage and file a roof insurance claim. Add a twice-a-year reminder on your calendar to do a visual inspection of your roof.

Here is a Simple Checklist

• Buckling or curling shingles
• Parts of your roof appears to sag
• Shingle granules in the gutters
• House without gutters
• Moss on the roof
• Damaged or poorly installed flashing
• Ceiling or wall discoloration
• Rising energy bills

Buckling or curling shingles

These two signs of roofing problems look differently. Buckling shingles have a wrinkled appearance. It’s as if an object lies beneath the shingle and is trying to push the center up. On the other hand, curling shingles have sides that are bent outwards.

Either of the two signs tells you that your attic is poorly ventilated. First of all, it’s important that you install vents to reduce humidity and lower indoor temperature. Confirm that ventilation is the problem by going inside your home and checking for mold on walls.

Parts of your roof appears to sag

You might think that it’s design, but no, sagging roof lines suggest that you need a roof replacement immediately. Most of the time, people don’t notice wavy rooflines unless they look closely from the road.

Roof lines sag because the rafters sustained damaged. It’s possible that the rafters weakened over time due to snow load. Rot and termite damage are other reasons. If your house is located near trees, know that tree roots affect your foundation. Foundational issues result in roof damage.

Shingle granules in the gutters

Granules play important roles. They coat shingles to add beauty to them and reflect the sun’s rays. You’ll know when your roof experiences granule loss once you find granules in your gutters.

Some people assume that hailstorms are the only things that damage granules. However, granule loss can happen because of excessive sun exposure, foot traffic, and even normal wear and tear. You’ll know that it’s normal wear and tear if the loss takes on a uniform appearance.

Whatever the reason, granule loss speeds up roof aging. Depending on the severity, an Exterior Renovations Certified ShingleMaster^TM will advise a shingle replacement.

House without gutters

Every roof needs a gutter system, especially roofs that have low slopes. Gutters lead rainwater from your roof, to the downspouts, and away from your foundation. So, you can imagine the consequences of not having gutters – structural damage and moisture problems.

Whatever the reason, granule loss speeds up roof aging. Depending on the severity, a roofing contractor will advise a shingle replacement.

Moss on roof

If you think that the green stuff that has grown on your roof looks cute and dreamy, think again. Moss on the roof is a huge problem. Moss absorbs and retains moisture for a long time. Prolonged exposure to moisture causes roof shingles to deteriorate and leak.

Once you see moss growth, call a roofing contractor to remove it. Most of the time, your contractor will do some roof cleaning and scrubbing. Installing zinc strips prevents moss from growing back.

Damaged or poorly installed flashing

Roof flashing is commonly made of sheet metal. Protecting your roof, flashing funnels water away from the chimney, intersections, and penetrations.

Damaged roof flashing can result from impact by hail. There are also times when a roofing contractor makes mistakes in flashing installation. Regardless, know that flashing problems cause leaks in your home.

Indoor Inspection

An obvious of damage this residential roof inspection checklist mentions is discoloration. Water stains on walls and ceilings often result from moisture entering through the roof. Maybe your roof is leaking and you let the problem solve itself. Here’s news: It doesn’t.

Call an Exterior Renovations Certified ShingleMaster^TM to confirm moisture damage. An Exterior Renovations Certified ShingleMaster^TM will check hidden problems to be able to fix everything.

Rising Energy bills

Energy bills soar for many reasons. One of the reasons is a damaged roof. Roofing systems that are nearing or have exceeded their lifespan or got hit by a stone may no longer be good in reflecting the sun’s rays.

As a result, they hold more heat and force cooling systems to work hard.

Should You Go up on the Roof?

This residential roof inspection checklist mentions nothing about going up the roof. When it comes to roof maintenance, homeowners should always stay on the safe side.

Never go up the roof. You don’t just need a good ladder to spot roofing problems. You need years of experience and the best safety practices. Leave the risky part of roofing inspection to an Exterior Renovations Certified ShingleMaster^TM.

Also, please be warned to avoid tackling roofing repairs on your own. DIY jobs often result in costly errors due to lack of knowledge.