1. Leaks
Water often travels several feet before it shows up, so the drip is rarely at the source. Watch for ceiling stains, bubbling paint, damp attic insulation, or daylight through the roof boards. After heavy rain, check the attic with a flashlight and photograph any wet spots.

2. Damaged Shingles
Wind, hail, sun, and age cause missing, cracked, or curling shingles. Look for bare spots, shingles in the yard, or granules piling up at your downspouts. Binoculars from the ground are a safe way to check after a storm.

3. Chimney and Vent Flashing
The metal sealing your chimney and vent pipes can rust, lift, or pull away as sealant dries out. If a leak appears near your fireplace or a vent, flashing is the likely culprit.

4. Skylight Leaks
Skylights add light but also add seams that can fail. Watch for water stains or drips around the frame, condensation between the glass panes, cracked or foggy glazing, and dried-out seals. Skylight leaks are often caused by worn flashing or a failed seal rather than the glass itself, and older units may be worth replacing during a reroof.

5. Roof-to-Wall Flashing
Where a roof meets a vertical wall, like a dormer, second story, or attached garage, water needs a clear path away from the siding. When step or kick-out flashing is missing or failing, water runs behind the wall and causes hidden rot. Look for stains on interior walls, swollen or discolored siding, peeling paint near the roofline, or water streaks down the exterior wall below the roof edge.

6. Poor Ventilation
Trapped heat and moisture can bake shingles from below and rot the decking. Signs include an extremely hot attic, winter frost on the roof deck, mold, or rising energy bills. Make sure insulation isn't blocking your soffit vents.

7. Clogged Gutters and Ice Dams
Full gutters push water under the shingles, and in winter that water can freeze into ice dams. Clean gutters every spring and fall. Recurring ice dams usually point to attic heat loss.

8. Ponding on Flat Roofs
Water that sits more than about 48 hours after rain wears down the membrane. Keep drains and scuppers clear.

9. Trees, Critters, and Moss
Trim branches 6–10 feet back from the roof, watch for chewed vents or attic noises, and remove moss with a roof-safe cleaner. Never pressure-wash shingles.

10. Age: Repair or Replace?

Material

Typical Lifespan

3-tab asphalt

15–20 years

Architectural asphalt

20–25 years

Metal

40–70 years

Tile or slate

50+ years

Flat membrane (TPO, EPDM)

20–30 years

Repairs make sense for localized damage on a younger roof. Consider replacement if the roof is near the end of its lifespan, leaks keep appearing, or the decking feels soft.