How Often Should My Roof Be Inspected?

Most professionals recommend that a residential roof be inspected twice a year, in Spring and Fall. It's better to catch problems while they're small, before they turn into big, nasty, expensive repairs.

While some homeowners might not want to spend the money for a professional inspection twice a year, as an alternative you could have your roof professionally inspected the first time and then maybe every two years thereafter. During the interim you can perform visual inspections in Spring and Fall to look for any obvious warning signs of deterioration.

If doing it yourself, keep these tips in mind, and write down any areas of concern:

Safety

• Inspect your ladder first to make sure there are no weak or damaged rungs or rails.
• Make sure the ladder is on firm, level ground.
• Secure the ladder at the top to prevent if from sliding left or right.
• If you're worried about the ladder scratching your gutters, wrap old towels around the tips of the ladder before laying it against the house.
• Extend the ladder 3 or 4 feet beyond above the top of the gutter, and angle it back from the house about 1 foot for every 4 feet of eave height. If it looks or feels too steep when you start to climb, it probably is. Get back down and angle the bottom of the ladder further from the house.
• Use both hands while climbing.

We recommend that homeowners not climb onto the roof for several reasons:

• Walking on the roof can loosen the granules on asphalt shingles, which reduces their protective value.
• If shingles are old, curled, blistered or craked, walking can break or tear the shingles and expose the house to leaks which weren't present before.
• Rotted roof decking that is not visible to the naked eye can collapse and cause you to fall through.
• Most types of roofing material (asphalt, metal, tile, slate and shake) can be very slippery even on moderately-sloped roofs, and this is magnified on steeper pitches.
• A set of binoculars is very handy and can eliminate your need to climb on a roof.

Outside Visual Inspection

• Look for curling, blistered, torn or split shingles. A few bad shingles can be repaired inexpensively, but if the overall appearance is poor, it's probably time for a roof replacement.
• Do you notice any loose or missing shingles?
• Are there exposed nails, or nails that are rising up above the shingles? These can be a source of leaks.
• If you see dark patches on an asphalt shingle roof, this is an indication that the granules have worn away.
• Look for granules in your gutters and on the ground at the base of the gutter downspouts. Some granule fall-off is normal, but if you notice a significant amount (along with dark spots on the roof), that's a sign of an aging roof.
• Stand in the yard and look for any signs of sagging, wrinkling or buckling across the overall expanse of the roof.
• Check for any debris accumulation in roof valleys, which can block normal water runoff and cause leaks if water backs up underneath shingles.
• Check areas where the ridges and hips meet.
• Look for loose flashing around vents, pipes, chimneys, skylights, and satellite dishes.
• If you have dormers, inspect the areas where the vertical sides of dormers meet the roof. Flashing in these areas should be in good shape or can be a source of leaks.
• If you get lots of rain, regular removal of wet leaves and debris that collect in certain areas of the roof will prevent mildew accumulation and discoloration.

Inside Inspection

• Inspect the attic for any signs of leaks. Dark spots on rafters or on the underside of the plywood decking can indicate that water is penetrating inside. Also look for moisture around vents, pipes, chimneys, and skylights.
• Test dark spots to see if they're still wet. Try pushing a sharp screwdriver into the wet spot -- if the wood is soft it's rotten. If the wood is stained dark but is dry and firm, it might be a stain from an old leak that was previously repaired.
• Look for any signs that the plywood deck is sagging between the roof rafters.
• Look for wet or damp insulation. This can be caused by outside leaks, or by excess moisture accumulation in the attic due to insufficient ventilation.
• Can you see any pinpoints of light shining through the roof? If sunlight can get through, water can get through.

With regular inspections and proper care and maintenance, your roof can last for a long time.

If you've got concerns about anything, give us a call at (215) 459-8569 to discuss it. You may or may not need an estimate but it's always nice to have a second opinion from an experienced professional.