Check your roof from the ground
Takes about 10 minutes. Do it in spring, in fall and after any big storm. Everything here is done from the yard or inside. Stay off the roof and ladders.
Where to look
Tap a number to see what it is and jump to that question.
Are any shingles missing
Outside: the roof
Look from the yard or across the street. Never climb up.
Are any shingles missing?
Shingles are the flat pieces that cover your roof. Look for bare spots, or pieces lying in the yard after wind.
Are any shingles curling, cracked or bald?
Good shingles lie flat. Worn ones curl up at the edges or have shiny, bare patches where the grit has washed off.
Is the top line of the roof straight?
Stand across the street and look at the very top edge of the roof. It should be a straight line. A dip or wave can mean the wood underneath is weak.
Is the metal around the chimney lying flat?
Where the chimney meets the roof there is a metal strip. It should lie flat. Rust, gaps or metal lifting up let water in.
Is there moss or a pile of leaves on the roof?
Dark streaks are usually just stains. Moss and piles of leaves hold water on the roof and rot it from the top.
Outside: gutters and downspouts
Gutters are the open channels along the bottom edge of the roof. Downspouts are the pipes that carry the water down.
Is there black sand at the bottom of the downspouts?
That "sand" is grit washing off your shingles. A lot of it can mean the roof is wearing out.
Do the gutters spill over when it rains?
Watch during a rain. Water should run to the downspout, not pour over the front or drip behind the gutter.
Are the gutters pulling away from the house?
Gutters should sit tight against the board under the roof edge. A gap or a sagging section means it is coming loose.
Does the downspout water land away from the house?
The water should come out a few feet from the wall. If it pools against the house, it can end up in the basement.
Outside: walls and roof edge
Siding is the outside covering of the walls. The soffit is the flat surface under the roof overhang.
Is any siding loose, cracked or missing?
Walk around the house and check every side, especially after wind or hail.
Are there dark streaks running down the walls?
Streaks usually start under a gutter or roof edge. They mean water is running down the wall instead of into the gutter.
Are there holes or soft spots under the roof edge?
Look up at the soffit. Holes let birds, squirrels and raccoons into the attic, and soft wood means water is getting in.
Inside the house
Start on the top floor and check corners and closets too.
Are there brown stains on the top-floor ceilings?
A brown ring or yellow spot usually means water got in at some point. Draw a pencil line around it and check if it grows.
Is paint peeling near the ceiling or above windows?
Bubbling or peeling paint on an outside wall can mean water is running down inside the wall.
In the attic, do you see daylight, wet insulation or dark stains?
Only look if the attic is safe to enter. With the lights off, you should not see daylight through the roof boards.
Do the bathroom fans blow air outside?
Turn the fan on and look outside for a vent flap that opens. Fans that blow into the attic soak the insulation and grow mold.