Roofing Company: When to Call

Since you likely spend little time on the roof of your home, you may not realize that you need to contact a roofing company until you start seeing leaks or losing shingles. Learning to spot the signs that it’s time for a new roof will help you fix the problem before your home is seriously damaged.
First, find a place where you can see your home’s roof, preferably from above. Take a pair of binoculars if you must go across the street. Consider climbing onto your neighbor’s roof – with permission, of course – to give yourself a good vantage point.
Once you can see your roof well, check for damaged flashing. This occurs when a new roof is not installed properly. It can also happen if an older roof starts to dry and crack, or if the structure of the home begins to settle.
Next, inspect the roof for missing shingles. Shingles can fly off of your roof because they were not fastened properly by the roofing company that did the initial installation. However, the most common cause of this type of damage is a strong wind storm that blows some of the shingles off.
One sign that your roof is simply getting old is curling. When water is absorbed into wood or fiber-reinforced shake roofing, the edges start to curl away from the surface of your roof. This can allow leaks and also makes it more likely that the shingles will fly off during wind storms.
If you live in a humid, warm climate, check for algae growth on your roof. Airborne algae can attach themselves to your roof and begin to grow. This is unsightly and can also lead to rotting and other problems down the road. 
If your shingles have granules, make sure that there are not too many missing. Some will be loose, but on an older roof, large patches of missing granules is a cause for concern and a sign that you may need to consider a replacement roofing option.
Buckling is not necessarily a sign of aging, but it is a potential problem. Movement of the deck or an improperly applied roof can cause buckling. If your roof is fairly new, consider contacting the roofing company to see if they offer any sort of guarantee against buckling problems. 
If you notice blistering in your roof, it means there is moisture in the shingle. This typically occurs when ventilation under the roof is inadequate. You may be able to salvage the roof, if the damage is not yet severe, by improving the ventilation.
In homes that have organic-based shingles, rotting is a very real problem. This occurs when the mat absorbs moisture, eventually decaying the organically created shingles. This will need to be replaced before holes occur and you find yourself with leaks in your home.
If you notice any of these problems and are unsure about how to deal with them, contact a roofing company. While not all of these problems require a full roof replacement, you do not want to let them go too long and develop a serious issue or a leak that damages the ceiling in your home.