In order to make sure that your roof stays in good shape, you want to perform an inspection regularly to look for any problem areas. To do this, you'll need to get up close and personal with your roof, inspecting not only the obvious signs but also look for signs of premature wear and tear, such as structural support damage.
But climbing up on the roof can be dangerous, which is why some homeowners hire out a residential roofing company to do their thorough inspections for them. Visual inspections, however, can be done from the ground on a regular basis, and these are vital to ensuring that you spot problems before they turn into major issues. Below are a few things to look for while you're performing these visual inspections.
Check the Shingles
Because many homes use asphalt shingles as the primary roofing material, this should be a relatively easy issue to spot. Walk around the ground near your house and look for any signs of wear and tear to your shingles, such as curling, warping, or discoloration. Also, examine closely to see if there any shingles that are missing altogether, as that's a surefire way for water damage to get in your home.
Check for Low Spots
Most roofs look basically identical. They have a series of slopes and eaves that drain towards the ground, so you'll want to inspect these angles to see if there are any low spots that indicate damage to the under supports. If you see any, it may be only a matter of time before the roof gives way.
Check Your Gutters
You may not think that your gutters can damage your roof, but a clog near the exit point of your gutters can cause water buildup to the area on your roof next to these pipes. Make sure that those are cleared regularly to ensure that no standing water seeps through and causes low spots in your roof. If you're uncomfortable getting up on a ladder to clean out your gutters, contact a roofing company to see if this is one of the residential roofing services that they provide.
Check Your Flashing
The "flashing" on your roof indicates the metal connection point between your roofline and your chimney. Over time, this can start to pull back from the chimney and cause the middle piece to become exposed; you should be able to see it by looking for a possible reflection or a silver line. You want to get this repaired as soon as possible since this gap can allow water and even rodents to get into your home, not to mention the damage to your home's energy efficiency.
Contact a residential roofing service for more information.