Learning how to evaluate your home's roof for severe damage is crucial for any homeowner. Roofing materials often take the brunt of the damage from severe storms, potentially leading to future leaks or additional damage. Looking for obvious signs of damage, such as missing shingles or visibly damaged gutters, can help save you from expensive repairs in the future.
However, these basic from-the-ground inspections aren't always enough. You may not need a more thorough evaluation when your home has only been through a minor storm. On the other hand, major storms, hurricanes, or hail will often necessitate a professional inspection. If you've recently been through one of these events, here are three reasons to have an expert inspect your roof.
1. Hail Damage Likes To Hide
When you think of hail damage, are you thinking of large holes punctured through your home's roof? While massive hail can cause catastrophic damage, most hail damage is much more subtle. Small pieces of hail usually cause damage by bruising your shingles. This process involves knocking off granules and loosening the shingle's adhesion to the roof decking.
These bruises aren't always large enough to see from the ground. Additionally, determining whether your roof requires repairs or replacement will usually require a roofer to inspect the extent of the damage across the entire roof. This job usually requires a trained eye and experience in looking for sometimes hard-to-see evidence of hail damage.
2. You Can't See Loose Shingles
A shingle that flies off your roof has failed and can no longer protect your home from the elements. However, shingles often loosen long before they break free. A loose shingle can allow water to seep underneath to the more vulnerable decking below, leading to leaks or rotted-out wooden decking boards.
Unfortunately, you can't usually see loose shingles from far away. Instead, a roofer will usually need to look for the signs up close and test a few of your shingles to see if they feel unreasonably loose. Locating roof shingles and replacing or repairing them is crucial since the next major storm may cause them to break free, creating the potential for much more severe damage to your home.
3. You May Miss Active Leaks
You always want to locate active leaks as soon as possible, and the immediate aftermath of a storm is one of the best times to find these problems. Small leaks may not leave much evidence of their presence, especially if there isn't enough water leaking into your home to make it to the living spaces. You may only notice mold and moisture in your attic much later.
However, evidence of leaks will often be visible in your attic following heavy rain storms. An experienced roofer can look for these signs, helping you to uncover and repair ongoing leaks that may eventually cause substantial damage to your home.
For more information, contact a roofing inspection company, like Thompson & Thompson 3rd Generation Roofing, Inc.