Ready to Raise Your Roof IQ? Single Out Bad Shingles With These Tips

Every week, the detail-oriented folks at Green Scene Home Inspections will give CandysDirt.com readers an education in inspection. Want to see what they see? Tune in for “Upon Closer Inspection.”

When you’re buying a home, we advise people that the major areas of consideration are the roof, plumbing, electricity, HVAC, and the foundation. These are your bigger ticket items, so if something is amiss, you may have costly repairs on your hands at some point.

The shingles on a roof are there to create a water-tight, wind-resistant shield that protects your roof from environmental damage. So when shingles are damaged, it increases the chances of more serious roof damage.

1. Thinning and Pitting

Above you can see both thinning and pitting of shingles, which can be a sign that the roof is coming to the end of its life expectancy or overheating in the attic.

2. Storm Damage

This damage was most likely caused by a tree branch or a piece of debris during a storm. This whole section would need to be replaced, and it may be large enough to warrant a roof replacement.

3. Drip Edge Damage

Here you can see damage to the drip edge shingles, possibly caused by a tree branch or a ladder. In addition, there is supposed to be a diverter underneath the drip edge to keep the water from dripping on the AC unit below.

4. Rust Discoloration

When you see rust stains on the roof like this, it’s usually because the HVAC secondary condensate line has been draining to the roof – in this case, for some time. The AC causes condensation to form, which is supposed to drain away from the house through the primary condensate line. When that line gets clogged, the water backs up into the drain pain where it will sit until being drained off by the secondary line. Water sitting in the drain pan will start to rust, and then you get rusty water coming out of the drain.

The good news is, while rust discoloration is ugly, it doesn’t damage the shingles. It can usually be removed with a good power washer.

Whether you’re buying a home or you own a home, don’t wait until there’s a problem to learn about your roof. You can find some great info about how to know when it’s time to replace your roof here.