Leaking roofs, poor drainage, and clogged gutters and downspouts can lead to significant water damage inside your home.
Outside Roof Inspection
Inspecting a roof from outside is very simple. All is needed is a good viewing point that is unobstructed by getting on the rooftop. Following is a checklist of problem warning signs we look for during an outside roof repair inspection report.
1. Blistered, curled, or split shingles.
2. Loose or missing shingles
3. Loose nails
4. Exposed nails (can lead to leaks in the roof)
5. Dark patches on asphalt shingles and /or large amounts of granules in the rain gutters (the granular coating is wearing away).
6. Sagging either on the ridges or in the center of the roof.
7. Broken or loose shingles at the ridgelines and hip lines.
8. Rusty or corroded metal (flashing) and loose shingles in the valleys, plumbing vents or near chimneys. It may be necessary to remove excess debris and leaves to inspect thoroughly (and lots of leaf debris can cause damage to these sensitive areas of the roof).
9. Rusty metal or loose shingles in locations where a vertical side of the house meets the roof.
10. Overflowing gutters or excess water pooling near the foundation of the house.
11. Flat roofs look for blisters, depressions near vent pipes, separations in flashing, and clogged drains.
Indoor Roof Inspection
Following is a checklist of problem warning signs you can look for during indoor roof inspections:
1. Signs of water damage or leaking (usually in the form of water stains, cracks, or sagging ceilings), this could be due to an active leak or to condensation caused by poor roof ventilation.
2. Outside light that can be seen through the exhausts and/or ridge vents.
3. Signs of leaking in the attic.
4. Test dark spots in the wood to decide if they are old or current problems. If the spot is still wet, or it is soft (test with a screwdriver), the spot is a current problem. If the spot is dry and hard, it is most likely an old problem that has been fixed.
5. Sagging decking between rafters. If the decking is sagging or deteriorating, the decking will also require replacement when a new roof is installed.