A majority of men, who are also proud homeowners are oftentimes attracted to a thought, that if this is their own house than they are handy and skillful enough to fix (destroy) anything that is broken there (or not)… The Do-it-Yourself homeowner approach may work in regard to some of the home repairing activities, but the roofing. A lot of technical nuances (and the height) contribute to the fact, that roofs…
Inspecting your roof at least once a year ensures that the shingles, flashing, and other features are in good shape.
A roof inspection is one of those preventative maintenance jobs that’s easy to overlook. Don’t. Add a once-a-year reminder on your calendar to go out on a warm day and fix any problems you find.
If you’re fearful of the heights, don’t worry. You can do a thorough inspection from the ground using a pair of binoculars.
Or, you can get up close and personal with your roof using a ladder. However, there’s no need to get up on your roof just yet. The less you walk around up there, the better for your roofing — and the safer for you. Work your way around your house, noting any potential problems.
Here’s what to look for:
- Cracked caulk or rust spots on flashing.
- Shingles that are buckling, curling, or falling off…
- Missing or broken shingles.
- Cracked and worn rubber boots around vent pipes.
- Missing or damaged chimney cap. (OK, that’s technically not part of your roof, but since you’re looking anyway.)
- Amassed moss and lichen, which could signal the roof is decaying underneath. Black algae stains are just cosmetic.