Roofs account for one third of all homeowner’s insurance claims. It’s not too surprising when you consider that your roof is the first line of defense between your home and the elements. Unlike the other parts of your home, your roof is exposed to the elements 24/7. Rain, snow, wind, and even the sun’s rays are wearing down your roof over time.

Problems with your roof affect more than just your roof. Water that can get inside your home can cause costly damage to your ceilings, walls, floors, and personal belongings. Water can even find its way into your home’s electrical system and cause power outages. Wherever water is, mold can begin to grow which poses a health risk to anyone in the home.

All of these roofing problems have one thing in common: they can be avoided. By having your roof regularly inspected, you can catch problems before they become serious. By fixing those problems early you can avoid a lot of the expensive damage these problems can cause.

When to inspect your roof

Most people only think about inspecting the roof on two occasions: first when buying a home and second when selling a home. These are definitely good times to inspect the roof but it shouldn’t be the only times. In fact, most roofing experts recommend having your roof inspected twice a year with the ideal times being right before winter and again right afterwards. Having your roof inspected after a particularly bad storm is always a good idea as well.

Who should do the inspection?

You should be in the habit of periodically checking out your roof. Some roofing problems, such as cracked, curling, and missing shingles are easy to spot from the ground. This type of informal roof inspection can be performed any time without even having to get up on your roof. Simply walk around your home looking for signs of obvious roof damage. You can also observe your roof from the second story if you have a two-story home.

These informal roof inspections are not a substitute for a professional roof inspection however. Professional roofers know the signs to look for that the untrained eye would miss. They also have the proper training and safety equipment to get up on the roof and take a closer look without risking injury. Most roofers offer free roof inspections so there’s no reason to risk your own safety doing it yourself.

What the roof inspector will look for

In addition to looking out for the obvious signs of damage to your roofing material, the inspector will also look at the flashing. The flashing is a metal layer that is under the shingles on the vulnerable parts of your roof. They will also look at the roof’s structure itself making sure there is no sagging. Finally, most roofers will take a look at the rain gutter system as well to make sure it’s securely attached and in good shape.

Home improvement news brought to you by bartonroof.com

Source: networx.com/article/what-every-homeowner-should-know-about-r