Maybe you had an inspection not too long ago but a big storm just wreaked havoc on your neighborhood. Or, maybe something random happened to your roof like a neighbor accidentally knocked a shingle loose after an awful drive from the neighborhood golf course. Whatever the case, it’s good to know what to look out for when it comes to roof maintenance. While it’s always a best practice to get professionals over to look over your roof if you have any doubts, there is plenty that you as a homeowner can look for if you can’t schedule an inspection right away. Here’s Noble Roofing’s naked eye roofing inspection checklist for the everyday homeowner.
The Naked Eye Roofing Check That Anyone Can Use
How to Check
No matter how you choose to check your roof, remember the mantra “Safety First”. If you don’t have the right equipment, the correct footwear, or good coordination to navigate your roof safely, do NOT attempt to go on your roof. Most of the items on this checklist can be spotted with a handy set of binoculars or the zoom feature of your cell phone’s camera anyway. Ok, let’s get started! #1: Missing Shingles. This is probably the most obvious and easy imperfection to spot. It’s important to catch this early so you can get some emergency tarping to prevent water damage on your roof. The missing shingles must be replaced as soon as possible. #2: Curling, bucking, or blistering shingles. Likewise, shingles that aren’t necessarily missing but are in bad “shape” (pun intended) need to be replaced as well. Leaving these unattended can cause water damage to your roof, which leads to expensive repairs. At Noble Roofing, we want to save you as much money as possible by encouraging you to detect problems before they get big. #3: Damaged roof flashing. This can involved cracked caulk or rust. The flashing is any part of the roof that acts like a “border” to connect parts of the roof or create an aesthetic finish. Check out this informative image from HomeTips to see all the different types of flashing you may have on your roof. You may just have one or two types or you may have the whole shabang. It may be difficult to detect problems in more hard-to-reach areas of your roof, so if you want to make sure the base flashing near your chimney is in one piece, it’s better to call in the professionals to get up close and personal. Due to the delicate nature of flashing, the majority of these parts need to be fully replaced. #4: Black spots on your roof. This is sometimes mold, but it’s usually moss and lichen. Most of the time, these black spots are harmless, but sometimes moss indicates that your roof is decaying underneath the shingles. Most black algae stains are just cosmetic and nothing to fear, but it’s always good to rule out potential problems. For more information, check out our October 2017 blog, “What Are the Black Streaks on My Roof?” #5: Damaged vent boots. Your fans stops your bathroom and attic from becoming a permanent sauna, so it’s a good idea to love your ventilation system. You should be able to spot a vent boot that’s looking worse for wear if it’s really on its way out, but sometimes its defects can be difficult to see. Obvious signs would be rusting or rips in the pipe boot, or some common UV ray damage. Here’s an example of a vent boot that has the trifecta of these problems. #6: Popped nails. This may be easy to see from the ground, or maybe not. Only a skilled roofing contractor should get on your roof to safely hammer these guys back in, with the caveat that they should also check to see if the shingle that this nail has secured is still in good shape.
Roof Inspections and Repairs In Northern Virginia
Make sure that your home is properly protected from the damaging natural effects by maintaining your roof this fall. Whether you’re looking for better form or function, or simply feel that a new roof is in order, trust Noble Roofing, the preferred choice for roof replacement in Centreville VA and surrounding cities. Give us call at (703) 404-0505 to speak with our roofing experts. You can also request a free estimate through our online request form today. Recently experience bad Storm Damage? Sometimes a Roof Repair is all you need!
