by Pauline Abreu

Created on: April 27, 2009   Last Updated: July 26, 2009

Inspecting the roof of your home on a regular basis can save you money on expensive repairs in the future. All types of weather can cause damage to any type of roof, but if the problems are caught at an early stage you can possibly do the repairs yourself. Be sure to take precautions when inspecting, or working on your roof, always use the correct safety equipment and follow the correct guidelines for keeping you, and everyone around you safe while you are working on your roof.

- Inspecting the roof for damage -

1. Take care when climbing onto the roof, make sure the ladder is safe and reliable before climbing it. Use a safety harness at all times while inspecting your roof.

2. Hail can leave dents and pits in shingles, take a note of any with severe denting and be sure to replace them, or have a qualified roofing contractor do the job for you.

3. Many homes have a chimney, and you should check for damage to the chimney. In brick chimney's you may see gaps, cracks, or parts of the brick missing. You need to replace or repair these bricks as they will eventually cause your chimney to leak.

4. Roofing tiles can become out of place, loose, or come off entirely. Take a note of any needing replaced, or repaired, buy replacement tiles, and have a roofing expert fix the problem. You can always buy the tiles as this may be cheaper in the long run, but have a qualified roofer install them if you aren't an expert yourself.

5. A shake roof has wooden shingles that need to be inspecting for damage or missing shingles. Look at the shingles and replace any that are broken or loose. Never walk on a roof with wooden shingles as they may be rotting and you may fall through the roof, or be injured.

6. Many houses in the Southwest have clay shingles, these should be inspected like any other shingles. Look for any damaged ones that need replaced.

7. Flashing is the metal that covers interruptions in the roof plains. If these are damaged they need to be replaced or repaired as water will leak into the interior through these areas.

8. When inspecting a metal roof look for signs of corrosion, pitting, and denting. Also look for gaps in seams and joints that may need to be repaired. If the metal roof is properly painted and maintained it can last for 50 years.

Water can run under loose tiles in heavy rain storms causing other tiles to be damaged. There is also plywood and paper under the shingles which can be damaged if the damaged shingles are not taken care of. Your roofing repair costs may be covered by insurance, if this is the case, take photographs of the damage and send to your insurance agent. You should inspect your roof at least 2 or 3 times a year, leaking roofs can lead to repairs being needed inside the home, therefore, inspecting your roof is important, and not just after bad weather.

If you are not sure about inspecting your roof yourself, then its best to hire a roofing contractor. Most contractors will even do the inspection for free, hoping to get your business. You may find this is your safest option when considering roof inspection.

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