Inspect your roof for signs of roof damage — not just the obvious ones like holes and missing shingles, but also keep an eye out for the following signs that are often overlooked:
Shallow dents – Hail damage is often hard to spot, since the impact areas are not very noticeable. But on a clear and sunny day, you should be able to spot the indentations created by hailstones or airborne debris. While most of today’s roofing products are rated for impact resistance, it’s important to have your roof professionally inspected, as the impact may have damaged the roof deck.
Whistling sounds in the attic – Roofing ventilation vents are typically large enough not to cause whistling. So if you often hear such sounds (which can be audible indoors) and can confirm that it’s coming from the attic, there may already be small holes that are creating unwanted air flow. Holes in the attic can get bigger over time with exposure to weather, so you should have them addressed before it would necessitate roof replacement.
Horizontal lines across shingles – If you notice horizontal lines on the upper half of each row of shingles, these are creases caused by the wind pulling upwards on improperly installed shingles. They appear like lines because the granules are falling off.
Cupping or curling shingles – Aging shingles may start cupping or curling – buckling from the sides or middle – and are not noticeable until they are in their later stages. This is especially noticeable in traditional three-tab shingles, which are usually flat, but less so with architectural shingles. This type of damage is caused by years of exposure to weather, and should only manifest in old roofs.
Roofing nails on the ground or in the gutters – If you keep finding roofing nails on the ground near the roof’s edge, or in the gutters along with leaves and debris, they may likely have come from the roof. These roofing nails may have been loosened by a combination of wind damage, deteriorating shingles and a weakened roof deck.