Your home's roof should be inspected for needed repairs on a regular basis; this might even need to be done every year, to find potentially weak areas and leaks that are beginning to form. However, there are other times when it's good to have the roof inspected, as there may be signs of needed repair work that you're overlooking, and which should be addressed as soon as possible. The following information can tell you if you should schedule an inspection for your home's roof.

After a very hot, dry summer

You may think that storms are the only thing that can damage a home's roof, but note that asphalt tiles can dry out and then become very brittle. In turn, they may start to crack, shrink or pull away from their connectors. The top layer of the shingles may also crumble and gradually come away from the tiles themselves. This can happen if the shingles are exposed to lots of direct sunlight, so if you've experienced a particularly long, hot, dry summer, and your home has little shade to protect the roof, have it inspected for potential damage and needed repairs.

The home seems stuffy or draughty

Since the roof is part of the home's insulation, the interior space may feel stuffy or draughty when there are holes in the roof, as those holes are letting in hot air during summer and cold air during winter. You might notice these extremes in temperature more so in the upper floors, where you're closer to those leaks. While an uncomfortable interior can be the result of poor insulation in the home overall, be sure to check the roof for damage and leaks as well.

Moss or other growth on the roof

If you notice moss, mould, mildew or other such growth on the roof, you want to avoid walking on the roof yourself, as these substances are slick and could increase your risk of a fall. However, you do want to have the roof professionally inspected by a roofing contractor, as moss, mould and mildew are typically the result of standing water. Water shouldn't collect anywhere on the roof; it should run down the side and into the home's gutters. If there is standing water, this can mean the flashing paper under roofing tiles needs to be replaced or that certain tiles are missing, and the cavity this creates is allowing water to collect. This can lead to water damage to other parts of the roof, so it's good to have these repairs done as soon as possible.