Inspect Your Roof
From the curb, take a good hard look at your roof; use binoculars if you have them. Signs of trouble include blackened areas on the roof, which could mean you have some cracked shingles. Also, missing or curled shingles is not a good sign. Look around the chimney, trim and other areas where there is flashing. Look for cracks or missing flashing. If you see cracks or missing flashing, get it repaired immediately.
Metal roofs are installed to last. Depending on the style and type, metal roof panels are fastened with gasketed screws into the roof decking or are attached with hidden fasteners directly to the roof deck. These metal roofing interlocking techniques provide bad weather resistance.
Check Your Ceilings
Walk around the inside of your home and look up at your ceilings. If you see water stains or other discoloration you can have a leak in your roof. You should also look carefully around all of your windows. If there are watermarks or stains, you might have to re-chaulk.
Metal roofs can eliminate ice damming at the eves, so water can't back up and collect under the roof then leak into your home.
Clean Your Gutters
A gutter full of leaves and debris is a recipe for disaster. If you live in an area that experiences heavy snow loads, the last thing you want is a clogged gutter. Think about it, if the gutter is full, where is the water going to run? The answer is—it won't. The weight of the debris, snow and water could rip the gutter right off the house. A full gutter can create ice dams, which will force moisture under your roofing material, creating leaks.
Depending on your metal roofing system, there are several gutter protection products available. Snow Guards are helpful for snow and ice prevention.
For more feedback on flashing, ceilings, and gutter issues check out our Ask The Experts forum.