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How to Spot Roof Damage After the Spring Melt

There are a lot of great things that come with the arrival of spring – and basically all of them have to do with warmer weather. Here in New Jersey (and in many other states across the U.S.), winters can be long and brutal. The relief and excitement people feel when the season finally begins to change is difficult to put into words.

But springtime can also bring a few nasty surprises if you’re a homeowner. You’ve probably noticed a few already. The yard is often a mess, with standing water and debris everywhere. Some of the trees and shrubs may have died during the winter, to say nothing of the lawn you worked so hard to maintain last summer!

Cleaning up these problems can be a pain, but the damage usually isn’t so bad in the end. There’s another problem, however, that’s much more costly to ignore: Roof damage.

A lot of people don’t think to look carefully at their roof during or after the spring melt, but this is a common time for roofing damage to develop or worsen. Even if you get up on a ladder to clean your gutters, it’s not always easy to get an accurate assessment of whether you have any roof damage; you may want to call in a professional to give you added peace of mind, especially if your roof has not been professionally assessed or maintained in quite some time.

But it’s also useful to have an idea of what to look for in terms of springtime roof damage. For example, you might notice that shingles in parts of your roof are damaged, warped, or missing altogether. This is a good sign that something is up, and that your roof may need some repair work.

If you see a lot of granules from your shingles (especially when cleaning out the gutters), this is another problem. Your shingles may be of poor quality, or they may be getting old and need to be replaced. You could put it off, but those problems tend to compound over time.

Other signs of roof damage could be spotted inside the home; most notably the attic, or interior ceilings or high walls. Mold or water stains in these areas are a common sign that water is getting in through the roof ­– which means that in addition to fixing the ceilings and walls themselves, it will be necessary to address the roof itself to make sure the problem doesn’t recur.

Finally, a certified inspector will look for damaged flashing around the various fixtures on the roof, such as the chimney. These areas also tend to weaken over time, and can cause other problems if not addressed.

Call a skilled roofer for an accurate assessment

Depending on where you live, you should have to look far to find a number of roofing contractors. Many of them are highly skilled and reputable operations, but some are less so. A friend or neighbor might point you in the right direction, but a solid web presence and an organized service approach are good things to look for.