The roof is probably one of the most important parts of your house since it plays an essential role in protecting your family against extreme weather conditions. However, it can be a challenging task to maintain and keep it in the best condition since environmental changes of temperatures, snow, rain, ice, sleet, damp shade, wet leaves, ultraviolet radiation, and other factors would lead to different issues on roofing.

Most experts recommend visual roof inspections at least twice per year in the spring and fall to find out any potential problems and have immediate resolves. Of course, you could try to assess the conditions with binoculars from the ground, but having a certified inspector walking on the roof will allow for more precise measurements.

With that in mind, here are a few important areas that you need to evaluate when having a visual roofing inspection in Culpeper VA. In general, you will need to examine the main components of the roof involving gutters, flashing, and shingles.

Inspect the shingles

The first thing to do in a roof inspection is to examine shingles’ condition. Damaged parts which are missing, broken, blistered, curled, or loose should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Carefully lift the shingle to see if there is roofing underlayment between the decking and the shingles. If it is missing, then the roof installation is improper and needs a new replacement.
Also, take a look at the ridge for failure or cracks. Leakage in this area could present itself anywhere inside your house. Lastly, the inspector will check for the shingles’ granular erosion. This is often a symptom of deterioration, which needs new shingles quickly.

Inspect the flashing

The inspector will examine the roof valleys for failures of any metal flashing or holes and cracked roofing in any patches. These valleys are especially prone to leaks. Next, the step flashing around chimneys and walls should also be checked for any damage. Make sure there aren’t any gap between the wall and the flashing.

The flashing around roof penetrations should be tight and sealed with pliable cement or caulking. Look for any missing rubber boot, flashing damage, improperly installed boot, or visible nail heads.

Inspect the gutters

A common symptom of granular erosion in asphalt roof shingles is the finding of many tiny granules in the gutters. In most cases, this might indicate deterioration and age. Also, make sure the downspout and gutter system is functioning and cleaned out correctly. Otherwise, they could get blocked and accumulate water under the lower edge shingles. As a result, water will drain and rot the boards.

The bottom line

No matter if you want to have roof inspections for insurance or maintenance, it is necessary to check these areas. Also, there are many reasons why it’s better to hire a professional service. With highly trained and certified roof inspectors, they can ensure thorough results and provide the ultimate solutions to keep your roof in the best conditions.