Most roof damage occurs during winter. Harsh weather conditions, such as heavy rain or snow, strong winds, and extreme temperatures, can cause substantial damage to a roof.

A roof inspection conducted before harsh winter weather hits is important because an inspection will:

Have your roof inspected as early as possible in the fall so you have enough time to make necessary repairs before winter. The following items should be examined during a pre-winter roof inspection.

The inspector should look for any leaks in the roof, as well as sources of the leaks. Locating the sources may be difficult, but it's necessary and often the most complex part of the inspection. A leak's location inside the building may not correlate with the location of the source of the leak on the roof. If the leak is repaired but not the source, new leaks will develop.

An inspection of the membrane itself should include looking for splits, ridges, eroded areas, punctures, blisters, and separating seams. Although these conditions may not be a problem now, they could quickly become one during winter.

Perimeter flashings, which tie-in the roof system to the building, are particularly vulnerable to damage from material shrinkage and movement of building components. If not properly attached, they can be dislodged by strong winds. Check to make sure the perimeter flashings are sealed and properly secured.

Used in areas where the roof is penetrated by things such as skylights, ducts and HVAC equipment, these flashings should also be checked to make sure they are sealed and properly secured.

Metal coping caps, counterflashings, expansion joint covers, perimeter fascia metal and termination bars should be checked for loose fasteners, an inadequate number of fasteners, or poorly maintained caulking at the edges. Sheet metal that has such conditions may develop leaks or get damaged by the wind.

When checking your roof's drains, make sure that all drains are open and allow water to exit, and that all gutters and downspouts are secure and free of debris. If you're in a region that gets a lot of snow, consider putting a red pole near each drain to easily locate them after a snowfall.