Call a roofer if you see a leak, a sag, missing shingles, or lots of grit in the gutters. Call too if the roof is past 15 years and a hail storm has come through. Calling does not mean you need a new roof. Often the answer is a small repair, or nothing at all.
The nine signs
You can see the first six from the yard. The last three are inside the house.
- Missing shingles. Bare patches or shingles lying in the yard after wind.
- Curled or cracked shingles. Edges that turn up, or tabs split across the middle. Heat does this over time.
- Bald or dark spots. Shingles are coated in granules, a sand-like grit that blocks the sun. Where it is gone, the shingle wears out fast.
- Grit in the gutters. A little is normal, most of all on a new roof. A lot, or piles at the downspouts, means the shingles are shedding.
- A sag or dip. The roof line should be straight. A dip can mean wet or weak wood below.
- Bent or rusty flashing. Flashing is the metal that seals the joints around chimneys, walls and vents. Gaps there are a common cause of leaks.
- Ceiling stains. Brown rings or bubbled paint, most often after a hard rain.
- A damp attic. Dark stains on the wood, wet insulation, or a musty smell.
- Daylight in the attic. Light coming through the roof boards where there is no vent.
Call soon, or call when you can?
Call soon if:
- Water is coming in.
- The roof sags.
- Shingles are gone and wood or black paper is showing.
Call when it suits you if:
- You see grit, curling or bald spots but no leak.
- The roof is past 15 years and you do not know its state.
- A hail storm hit your part of town and you are not sure if it marked your roof.
After a hail storm
Hail damage is easy to miss. A hit can knock off grit and bruise the shingle without a leak for months. From the ground, check the soft metal first: gutters, downspouts, roof vents, the mailbox. If those are dented, the roof may have been hit too. If they are clean, it may be fine. Either way, do not take a stranger's word at the door that your roof is damaged. Ask to see photos of your own roof.
What a visit should give you
- Clear photos of each slope and each problem spot.
- A plain answer: fine, repair or replace.
- A written price if work is needed.
- Time to think. No one should push you to sign on the spot.
What to do next
If you spotted one or more of these signs, get pictures before you decide anything. Legacy Roofing, based in Crowley, offers a free drone roof survey in Crowley, Burleson, Joshua, Fort Worth and nearby towns. Someone needs to be home for the flight. The drone photographs the roof from the driveway or street, and anything that needs a closer look is checked by hand. The written photo report is yours to keep, whether or not you hire us.
