A huge storm has hit your area. Nobody was hurt, but leaves, branches and other debris is scattered everywhere and cleanup is going to be a tremendous headache. Looking around, your house appears unscathed, but what about the roof? How can you be sure it’s not damaged or unsafe? Should a professional come take a look?
This is a confusing thing to navigate on your own, but rest assured there are a few basic things you can check for to decide what to do next.
Look at the Obvious
Yes, there will be situations where the damage is, literally, right there in front of your face. The signs of this include:
- Water marks on your ceiling
- Missing and damaged shingles/shingles lying in the yard
- Wet walls or peeling walls
- Broken and damaged flashing
- Water-related problems around the home
- Large branches or whole trees on the roof
These should all be visibly obvious to the naked eye, and will require a professional to pay a visit to assess the damage. However, if you don’t see anything, there may be less obvious things that you’ve missed.
Problems that are Visible but not Obvious
Let’s assume you’re not a roofing expert and don’t know what you’re doing. If that’s the case, don’t take it upon yourself to venture up onto the roof because there could be rot or loose shingles. However, make note to keep an eye out from the ground for the following:
- Granule buildup or dents/dings on shingles
- Flashing that is loose or missing along the edge of the roof, skylights, vents, and chimneys
- Loose or peeling sealant along the roof, skylights, vents, and chimneys
- Water damage in the attic
Inspections are Important
Again, you’re probably not a professional if you find yourself reading this. This means that bringing in a professional inspector is in your best interest, in order to ensure any and all damage is caught. You can sleep easier at night knowing that your home is safe from leaks, potential failure and more when a professional is able to sign off on your roof’s health.
Regardless of how the weather in your area has been, annual roof inspections can help you stay on top of your roof’s health and save you money on major repairs and replacement in the future. A professional roof inspector identifies any damage and explains to you what needs to be done to fix it. Contact The Roofing Center in Sandy today to have one of our expert roof inspectors come out and take a look at your home.
