Simple DIY Tips for Roof Inspection and Repairs

Good roofing is essential for a lot more than just aesthetics. Not to trivialize beauty, but if it looks awesome from the outside but fails to perform as expected, then it is not worthy. You do not want to imagine your family coming to spluttering wakefulness in the dead of the night because the rain found its way in.

Having your roof inspected for leaks and weaknesses is therefore very important. It ensures that your roof is always at its best and your family is well protected from the elements.

How often should a roof be inspected?

If you’ve got good quality roofing, once a year should be enough; Preventive maintenance is unfortunately not taken with the seriousness it deserves. It can save you a lot in terms of maintenance costs and …well…embarrassment. It is possible to do the inspection yourself if you are well versed in roofing matters, but you can also hire the services of a roof inspection company. A company will most definitely have roofing experts who can make out weaknesses that you might not notice.

Roofing experts will tell you that walking around constantly is not good for the roof. It is not good for you either. You could fall off. If you are keen on doing the inspection yourself, a pair of binoculars could come in handy. You can then do your inspection from the ground. Alternatively, you could use a ladder.

What to look out for:

Shingles: Check if they are blistering, curling, or buckling. Also, see if any are missing or broken.

If there are signs of rust on the finishing or the caulk is cracked.

The rubber boots around the vent pipes should not be cracked or worn.
Chimney cap: It may not be part of the roof but since you are up there, you might as well check the chimney. It has been known to let in some unwanted visitors.
Moss and lichen: These are signs of decay. Your roof might be decaying from under.
Ignore the black algae stains. Those add to the aesthetics.
Age of roofing: Your roof could be about to retire.

DIY Fixes

There are some problems that are easy enough to fix that you do not need to pay for the repairs. Some of them can actually be done immediately. Examples of these are:

Shingles: Loose or missing shingles can be fixed promptly.
Nails: If you find nails that have popped out of their sockets, you can simply hammer them back in.
Shingles and caulk flashing: Unless the idea of being up on the roof freaks you out, you can do the replacement as it is easy.
Flashing and vent boots: You can replace these if they are showing signs of rust or deterioration.
Flashing around chimneys, skylights, and attic vents: These must be redone with caulk. You might want an experienced repairperson for that.

There are simple tasks that one can do but if you are not confident in your DIY skills or you are not comfortable with heights, then you could call up a roof inspection company to take care of the inspection and any repairs that may need to be done.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates