DIY Home Roof Inspection

Be honest – you rarely think about your roof. However, you do know it does an important job, and you know that if it fails, your whole house pays the price. So, what condition do you think your roof is in right now? Follow along with our DIY home roof inspection and see for yourself!

At Mid-Shore Exteriors, we’re the Eastern Shore of Maryland’s residential roofing team that does it all – from repairs to new roof installations. Keeping your roof in good shape is key to preventing an unexpected bill which is why we put together this checklist – to encourage homeowners to think more about their roofs – and save money in the long run!

Important: We encourage you to be safe and take the proper precautions when performing the DIY roof inspection.

If you decide you’d rather leave it up to the professionals, contact us to see if you qualify for a FREE roof inspection.

Homeowner checking the roof condition

 

7-Point Roof Inspection Checklist

While there’s no substitute for an expert set of eyes, a great first step to finding out what your roof may need is to follow this simple 7-point roof inspection checklist:

Roof Inspection Checklist

  • Look for Missing Shingles – If you want to avoid climbing a ladder and being on the roof, this is the only step you’ll need. Find a place where you can see a majority of your roof from the yard. You’ll want to look for spaces or holes where there are shingles missing. Missing shingles provide a great opportunity for water to infiltrate your roof and do damage – that’s why this is the first point on our roof inspection checklist.
  • Check for Curling or Standing Shingles – Just because your shingles are still on the roof doesn’t mean they’re doing their job. If you see shingles that are visibly curled or standing up, that generally means that they are no longer properly attached to your roof. This weak seal means that your shingles are no longer keeping the water off your roof. Find this soon enough and it’s likely a quick repair rather than a full replacement. Note: This step may require a ladder to see curling or standing shingles not visible from the ground.
  • Hunt for Shingles in Your Yard – Shingles belong on your roof, keeping your home dry – not in your lawn. One of the surest signs of roof damage is seeing shingles on your lawn. Heavy winds and storms are most often responsible for dislodging shingles from your roof. So, it’s always recommended to look for shingles after a storm, particularly if you know your roof is older. If you see shingles in your yard, verify they belong to your roof, then contact Mid-Shore Exteriors – or tell your neighbor to give us a call!
  • Keep an Eye out for Moss Growth – Moss can grow practically anywhere, but if you see it on your roof as part of a DIY home roof inspection, that’s a problem. As the moss grows on your roof, it slowly eats away at the surface of the shingles and the wooden underboards. This will cause it to lose the watertight qualities and eventually deteriorate the roof’s structural integrity.
  • Look for Grit and Granules in Your Downspouts – One of the best ways to see if anything is amiss with your roof involves looking in your gutter downspouts. If you see grit and granules from your shingles building up in them, that’s a sign your roof is losing its waterproof qualities. This is an essential place to look as part of a DIY home roof inspection if you have a hard time seeing your roof from the ground.
  • Check for Cracks – One of the most important steps in our roof inspection checklist! Once again, you’re looking for the obvious signs that your roof is damaged. If you can see a large crack in one or more sections of your roof, that’s enough cause to call an expert. These cracks can undermine the watertight quality of your roof, creating major water leaks.
  • Examine the Attic – While most steps of a home roof inspection take you outside, this one requires you to go into your attic. If your roof has developed a small leak, one of the first places you’ll notice is in the attic. Check the attic ceiling for water spots or the signs of mold growth. Both damage types are indicators of an external leak.

 

Why Roof Inspections Are Important

While 99% of the time your roof isn’t anywhere on your mind, during that other 1%, you can’t think about anything else – because when your roof really starts leaking, it’s a full-blown emergency.

This is why roof inspections are important to determine if your roof is in good shape or if it needs some expert help. Finding an issue beforehand, either DIY or by bringing out a professional like Mid-Shore Exteriors, can limit the extent of the damage and the expense associated with it. Simply put, if you can get by with a simple repair rather than a full replacement, it’ll be well worth your while.

Learn what a new roof really costs.

 

DIY Roof Inspections – or Contact Mid Shore Exteriors!

diy roof inspection to perform at home

Now you have the DIY checklist to perform your own home roof inspection! If a DIY roof inspection is outside your comfort zone, you can trust the team at Mid-Shore Exteriors to provide a timely inspection and fair estimate!

Since we know the importance of getting a professional set of eyes on your roof, we’re offering a FREE home roof inspection – performed by our pros – to select homeowners. This is your best chance to get full peace-of-mind – or to catch a problem before a catastrophe happens!

Contact us to ask about our FREE inspection and all your other roofing needs!

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