You might see it every day, but you seldom notice when something is amiss. The problem reveals itself at the worst possible time, probably when it is raining hard and you suddenly see little drips of water trickling through your ceiling, or a bulge in the acoustic tile at your office. Since the roof of your home or office is usually out of your line of sight most of the time, it is no wonder that trouble happens when you least expect it.

The most common type of roofing problem is water leakage, which not only damages the attic of your home, but the interior walls as well. Water can also weaken the structure of a house if the leak is not repaired for a long period. The best way to identify it is by examining the inner walls of your house and look out for any visible signs of moisture, algae or moss growing on them.

Moisture combined with cycles of heat and cold weakens the materials used in roofs, causing the roof to rot. Once it starts to rot, a roof can easily get damaged by animals, or severe weather like hailstorms, or a heavy branch of a tree falling on them. The only way to identify such problems is to inspect your roof and look for telltale signs of rotting.

Animals can also cause lots of damage to your roof. Once they find a small opening in your roof, they usually make it wider and move right in. You might not notice the damage caused by them until your roof starts leaking through the holes they make. If you hear scratching noises in your attic, then in all probability you have animal infestation and your roof might need repairs.

The roof of your house has no escape from water. Though you might have constructed gutters for water to flow freely, leaves, broken twigs, animal excrement, and dust, can clog these drains causing water logging on your roof. If you see small plants or grass growing in the gutters of your roof, it is time to clean them.

Chimneys and power vents are covered with caps so that rainwater cannot get into them. However, strong winds, animals, and falling branches can sometimes damage them. Since these caps are easily replaceable, it won’t cause much of a problem if the damage is contained early.

Often windstorms damage roofs by blowing off shingles. A bare roof without shingles is more susceptible to moisture and algae, which can cause serious damage. Whenever you are installing shingles on your rooftop, make sure that you have an extra stack of them kept for later use. That way you won’t end up searching for particular a type and color for a patch job.

The only way to keep your roof in tip top shape is to have it inspected regularly. Experts recommend to do it at least once a year. You can do it yourself or call in a roofer who will have the right equipment to get up there and take a good look.