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You can start inspecting your roof from the ground by looking for unevenness in the roof lines and slopes. Keep an eye out for broken, damaged, or missing shingles, and look for visible gaps where the roofing material meets exterior walls or roof penetrations, like your chimney. If you’re comfortable getting up on your roof and using the necessary safety equipment, you can get a closer look at these areas to identify signs of damage. If you notice any potential issues, it’s best to call in a professional to confirm your findings.

Roof inspection companies sometimes need to be licensed, but it depends on the state and local municipality where you live. You can contact your local building department to see if licensing is required and use Angi’s contractor license lookup tool to confirm that the company holds the proper licensing. It’s also a good idea to hire a roof inspection company certified by the National Roof Certification and Inspection Association (NRCIA), as this helps ensure you’re getting a professional and reliable inspection from a company that is recertified annually.

Unfortunately, there’s no definitive answer to this question, but the wind rating of your shingles will give you a good idea of what wind speeds can damage your roof. If you’re concerned about damage, inspect your roof following windy conditions to look for signs of wind damage to your shingles. When in doubt, consider hiring a professional who fixes roofs to carry out an expert inspection. Remember that hurricanes, tropical storms, and tornadoes are likely to cause the most damage, but even severe thunderstorms can bring winds that compromise your roofing system.

While you can technically install new roof sheathing over an old layer, it is generally not recommended for several reasons. Installing new sheathing over old can trap moisture, which may lead to future problems, especially in humid climates. It also adds significant weight to the roof structure and prevents you from inspecting the original sheathing for rot, mold, or other damage.

However, in some cases, if the old sheathing has been thoroughly inspected and is in excellent condition with no signs of rotting, warping, or damage, a roofer may install new sheathing over it to add strength and stability. Despite this, the more common and recommended practice is to remove the old roof sheathing entirely before installing a new layer, as removing it is not a difficult task.