Check Your Roof for Damage.

ROOF INSPECTION CHECKLIST

Inside:

• Check ceilings for dripping water or spreading wet spots that indicate roof leaks and water pooling in the attic.
• If your attic is accessible, go there during daylight hours and see if sunlight is streaming in through holes or cracks in the roof.
• Use a flashlight to check the decking for visible dark stains, streaks, sagging or swelling – all signs of likely water infiltration.

Outside from Ground Level:

• Conduct a visual inspection by walking around your house. Look up at the roof but also look down at the ground.
• If you see shingles missing on the roof or find them lying on the ground, have them replaced as quickly as possible.
• Look for signs of wind uplift. Are any shingles cracked or curled up? If so, they can no longer perform properly and must be replaced.
• The special granules that give shingles their color perform other important functions. If you see dark spots, the granules have been scraped off perhaps by windborne debris and you’re seeing the underlying asphalt. Left exposed to the sun, this asphalt layer can deteriorate and fail, potentially causing leaks.
• Pay attention to chimneys, dormers, skylights and other roof structures for signs that metal flashing has been detached or deformed. These areas are vulnerable to water infiltration and their protective flashing must be reattached or replaced quickly.
• If you see branches, whether still on the roof or lying on the ground, know that their impact – especially combined with the velocity of high winds – can cause shingles to crack, develop holes, lose granules or suffer other damage that you may not otherwise see. Hailstones can cause similar unseen, but severe, damage to shingles and compromise your roof’s integrity.

Outside from a Ladder:

• Weather permitting, and you’re physically able and comfortable in climbing a ladder, a close-up look at your roof to check for damage is recommended. Always use a ladder that’s in good condition and follow these safety tips. If you’re NOT willing or able to climb a ladder, hire a qualified professional to perform a roof inspection for you.
• Check for loose nails or fasteners. High winds can lift shingles up and result in nail pull-through which puts your shingles at risk of being blown away in future storms.
• Ensure that the gutters are free of debris. When water can’t flow freely and be drained away, ice dams can form or water can pool behind the build-up, potentially backing up under the shingles and infiltrating the roof deck to cause damage or leaks.
• Damaged flashing and shingles are easier to see from this perspective and must be repaired or replaced quickly.

Help is close at hand. Find a qualified IKO roofing contractor in your area.
Here’s what to ask a contractor.