If you own your own home, you should inspect your roof annually for damage. If you leave a damaged roof without repairing it, it can lead to very expensive repairs later. Once a leak starts, it can ruin a larger portion of your roof and cause interior structural damage as well as ruining drywall and belongings. All things to avoid.

The best way to inspect your roof is to get up on it. Look for torn shingles; shingles that are no longer sealing to the roof; corroded, torn, or missing flashing around chimneys and vents; and debris on the roof that may cause future damage. If you do not feel comfortable getting on your roof, you can try using binoculars and looking from the ground. If you still can't do an inspection yourself, there are usually roof inspection services that will come out and check your house for a small fee.