Cold weather stresses on roofs can turn minor problems into major complaints.  Now is the time to have your roof inspected to make sure that  minor problems will not became major leaks. If repairs are needed, now is the time to make repairs.

Most roofing manufacturers recommend inspections once or twice a year, especially when seasons include harsh conditions. Inspections help to identify potential problem areas-such as water ponding after heavy rains or areas damaged by sleet or snow-and expose areas that might be in need of frequent attention, such as caulking details and flashings.

Roof inspections can find potential leaks and related damage  before they become problems. The cost to replace a roof is measured  in dollars per square foot and the cost to inspect a roof is  measured in pennies per square foot. Thus, inspection is a cost  effective technique to prolong the life of a roof.

If there  is damage on a roof from summer storms or from aging in the sun,  the problems may be fairly small. The temperature swings from  sunny days to cold (below freezing) nights can be what causes  those leaks that show up as snow melts. By finding these problems  before they reach the leak stage, they can be repaired quickly. If leaks occur in the winter, repairs can be more difficult.  The other problem is that you do not necessarily know how much  damage has been done by the water entering the roofing system.  Undiscovered leaks allow the water to do a large amount of damage  before it finally enters the building as a "leak".  The cost savings of doing inspections can be most compelling.  If you can determine that the roof is in good shape for a few  pennies a square foot, that is cheap insurance against allowing the water to destroy your roofing asset, forcing replacement.

A comprehensive inspection should check the entire roof, with  particular attention to flashings, perimeters, and any areas  where past problems have occurred. Inspections should be done  using a checklist to remind the inspector what to check on the  roof. On a roof, movement can occur where HVAC units, pipes,  and drains come through. Since movement can ultimately cause  problems for the roofing system, the flashings need to checked  closely. A roof's perimeters is where movement in the walls can  cause tearing or disbonding of the flashings. Loose flashings  are more prone to damage, especially when temperatures are below  freezing. Past repairs or "trouble spots" should also  be checked when conducting a roof inspection in order to determine  how the "fix" is holding. If the repair did not correct  the original problem, the patch could come loose and the building  will continue to be plagued by that problem area.