Inside Roof Inspection Advice

Do you need a new roof? It can sometimes be tough to determine just why your inspector says a new roof is necessary, but there are a few simple signs to look for.

Continue the inspection from inside, where there is a whole new set of problems to look for. The obvious leak is not hard to miss, but there are warning signs you can look for that may help you stop a problem before it reaches the critical stage. These include

•  Sagging decking between the rafters.

•  Outside light that can be seen from the attic. If you have a shake roof, this may not be a problem as shakes will swell and seal during the wet months. On any other type of roof however, seeing the sky through your roof is not a good sign.

•  Signs of leaking in the attic. This could include dark spots in the wood, especially around vents, chimneys, and other hole to the roof, or stained drywall/ceiling tiles if your attic is finished.

•  If you find a dark spot on your wood, test it to determine if it is old or a new problem. If the spot is still wet, or if it is soft when you press a screwdriver to it, the spot is a current problem. If it is dry and hard, the problem has already been taken care of and you do not need to worry more about it.

•  Signs of water damage or leaking (usually in the form of water stains, or sagging ceilings)--this could be from either an active leak in the roof or to collected condensation caused by poor ventilation.