You probably don't think about your roofing too much since it's above your house and mostly out of sight. You might only be alerted to problems when you see water stains on the ceiling or hear water dripping when it rains. That's why it's a good idea to check your roof regularly for small signs of damage so repairs can be done before your roof starts leaking and you have to pay to repair water damage too.

If you're not comfortable walking on your roof, hire a roofer to check it for you. Here are some things to look for on your roof that should be repaired before the damage escalates.

Loose Flashing

Since flashing is made from metal, it lasts a long time. Flashing can even last longer than your roofing shingles, so you may not encounter problems with deterioration or severe rust. However, flashing can sometimes work loose when the adhesive dries out and wears away or when the flashing is battered by strong winds.

If the metal isn't adhered tightly to the roof, water can leak in around the edges and lead to a roof leak. Flashing should be checked periodically and should have more caulk or adhesive added when necessary to ensure it has a tight bond with the roof. Flashing can be found around pipes, the chimney, skylights, and in the valley of your roof.

Cracked Vent Boots

Vent boots are rubber or plastic parts that slide over pipes that protrude through your roof. These may not last the lifetime of your roofing since rubber and plastic can break down due to sun exposure. If a boot has a crack in it, the boot needs to be replaced. Some boots have rubber or plastic flashing attached as a single piece. This flashing might come loose too, so it's important to check around the edges to make sure it has a tight seal.

Damaged Shingles

Several things cause shingle damage, and the damage may not be easy to see until the roofer gets up on the roof for a close look. Shingles might get chipped off, cracked, or loose. Shingles can curl along the edges or lose a lot of granules. Your roofing contractor will check for these damages and make repairs if appropriate, but the best solution may be to replace damaged roofing shingles to ensure they won't start leaking.

Moisture Damage

The roofer also checks for water damage. The valley of your roof gets the most water since rain rolls toward the valley, but all areas of your roof are vulnerable to water damage if shingles are damaged or the flashing is loose.

The roofing contractor can often tell by the way the roof feels when walking on it if an area has water damage because the rot makes the roof feel softer in that place. Making repairs to a cracked boot might stop the water damage, and then the roofer has to decide if the wet piece of decking has to be replaced.

To learn more, contact a local roofing service such as KRG Roofing.