Roof and Siding Inspection Checklist

An important aspect of maintaining a beautiful, structurally sound home are regular inspections. Catching potential issues before they turn into an expensive, time-consuming problem is advantageous for obvious reasons. While you'll probably notice issues inside your home fairly quickly, the exterior is a different story. Often times even the most doting homeowner may not see damage occurring on their siding or roofing until it's too late.

You should aim to inspect the exterior house siding and roofing on an annual basis (on the infographic below, Severe Weather Roofing shows your roof’s worst enemies). Ideally, you will also hire a professional to inspect the exterior every 3 years. Keep in mind that you should also inspect your siding and roofing after any significant weather event, such as windstorms, heavy rainfall, and snow. 

Here is a quick rundown of what you need to check for when inspecting your house siding and roofing shingles.

• Cracks or splits forming in the siding
• Siding looking aged or worn
• Rusting on metal siding
• Signs of moisture damage or rot spots on wood roofing or siding
• Loose or missing roof shingles
• Damaged, rusted or missing flashing around the roof
• Cracks and damage around the chimney
• Missing or damaged fascia boards
• Loose gutters
• Roof sagging
• Missing caulking on roofing or siding
• Loose, missing or lifted nails on siding or roof
• Curled or cracked roofing shingles
• Moss or algae growth on siding or roof
• Nearby trees and plants touching siding or overhanging roof
• Missing granules from on asphalt roofing

Choosing new building materials that resist damage is a wise investment if you've noticed irreparable damage to your siding and roof. Opt for higher-quality, long-lasting materials like fiber cement house siding or storm impact-resistant roof shingles if you live in a region that often experiences severe weather.

If you find issues while inspecting your home be sure to call out a professional as soon as you can. Ignoring damage on the roof and siding of your home can invite moisture damage quite quickly, leaving you with a potentially unsound home and a much more expensive repair bill.

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