How often do you stop and take a look at the roof on your home? If you are like many individuals today, you are probably busy running kids back and forth, heading out to work, grocery shopping and more. You probably only glance at the roof on rare occasions as you pull out of your driveway.

Taking the time to look at your roof on a regular basis and making minor repairs as it needs them can help to prevent a hefty repair bill later on down the line. The last thing you want is a bunch of rain, snow, sleet or hail beating down on you because of a faulty roof. Keeping your roof in exceptional shape will also help if you ever plan on selling your home.

Begin at the Top

If you aren’t sure what you should be looking for when it comes to inspecting your roof, it isn’t as complicated as you might think. Experts recommend that you inspect your roof at least a couple times per year – fall and spring. The best place to start your inspection is on the inside of the home. Grab a good flashlight and head into the attic.

Begin by looking for the following:

• Places where the decking for your roof is sagging
• Signs of leaking or water damage
• Trials or dark spots
• Outside light that can be seen through your roof

Take a Look Outside

When you look at the roof from the outside of your home, you need to pay attention for any missing shingles, damaged flashing, blistering, curling, rotting, buckling or algae growth. In terms of algae growth, this often occurs in more humid climates and appears as a greenish or dark-colored stain. Take at the following on the outside of your home:

• Go through the roof and visually inspect it for any torn, cracked, missing or bald shingles.
• Scan over the roof for any signs of wear around the vents, chimneys, pipes and other penetrations, as well as signs of loose materials.
• Be on the lookout for any excessive amounts of shingle granules in the gutters. If you aren’t sure what to look for, search for something that resembles a large grain of sand. If you find this, you might have advanced wear on your roof.
• Look for any signs of rot, moisture or mold. Wet spots don’t have to be directly underneath of the faulty shingle. Water can easily travel down to the lowest spot before it ends up dripping. Fungi, mold and bacteria tend to grow at exceptionally fast speeds, often within a day or two of any water-related issues.
• Make sure that all of your kitchen, dryer and bath vents are running entirely outside of your home, and not just into the attic space.