How Do You Perform A Roof Inspection?
How Do You Perform A Roof Inspection?
A routine roof inspection is an important homeowner box to tick. A broken or leaky roof can create a slew of issues, including doing your A/C work overtime. Use these guidelines to check your roof safely. Use these five pointers to perform a roof inspection on your own.
1. Look for Algae, Moss, or Piles of Leaves.
You may start your DIY roof inspection from the ground if you have binoculars. Begin by inspecting your property for piles of leaves, other vegetation, or debris, all of which can cause major roof damage.
They can retain moisture, which can seep into the sheathing beneath your shingles and even into the roof’s structural parts. You should get rid of them right soon.
Moss is particularly harmful because it absorbs rainfall like a sponge. Moisture can create mildew and deterioration in the timber framework beneath your roof, jeopardizing its structural integrity.
2. Look for Buckled or Curled Shingles.
Hot air in your attic may warp, bend, or curl your shingles. (This is a common problem with asphalt shingles.) Misshapen shingles can jeopardize your roof’s integrity by allowing water through and producing poor ventilation, thus, they should be replaced.
During the roof inspection and repair procedure, if more than one-third of your shingles curl, it’s time to re-shingle the entire roof. Hot air in your attic may warp, bend, or curl your shingles. (This is a common problem with asphalt shingles.)
Misshapen shingles can jeopardize your roof’s integrity by allowing water through and producing poor ventilation, thus, they should be replaced. During the roof inspection and repair procedure, if more than one-third of your shingles curl, it’s time to re-shingle the entire roof.
3. Check for Damaged, Missing, or Old Shingles.
Water might leak through your roof if the shingles are missing or broken. Inspect wooden shingles or wood shake shingles for symptoms of dry rot from the ground or a ladder (do not walk on a wooden shingle or shake roof).
Roofs made of asbestos, slate, or clay tile can shatter, so examine for cracked, chipped, broken, or completely missing shingles. When inspecting a metal roof, look for evidence of corrosion, rust, stress wrinkling, or other damage.
4. Inspect the Roof Up Close.
If possible, climb a ladder and do a thorough roof examination. While up there, inspect the flashings surrounding the chimney, dormers, and vent pipes for damage. (Flashings are metal components on your roof that deflect water away from your home.)
Damaged or corroded flashings can let water into your roof’s inner structure, contributing to rot in the roof structure and the walls of your home. If you see any damage, the flashings will most likely need to be replaced.
5. Investigate Your Attic.
If your house has an attic, it’s critical to inspect it for indications of water leakage through the roof, especially after heavy rain. This might assist you in detecting damage that may not have been obvious from the ground or your ladder.
While performing your roof inspection, look for symptoms of moisture, mildew, and rot in your rafters and the wooden inside of your roof. If you see any water damage, your leaky roof may need to be repaired.
