Roofing Issues
Of all the problems you can encounter around the house, roofing problems are by far the sneakiest.  Leaks can develop unnoticed for years causing rot, mold, warping and other expensive damage.

Experts recommend that you go into your attic or crawlspace at least once a year after a rainstorm to check for leaks and water damage.  Special attention should be paid to areas where you have flashing (the metal or plastic weather stripping that will be around chimneys, pipes, vents, roof planes and eves) and solar panel attachments because these are typically the most likely area to develop leaks.  It is also recommended that you visit the surface of your roof yearly – during good weather (and, the obvious must be stated, only if you are physically able), to look for any loose, missing, eroded, warped or otherwise damaged shingles and to check the overall condition of your roof.

You should also clean rain gutters and downspouts of leaves and other debris regularly, preferably in the fall once the trees are bare.  While doing this, check for mineral deposits (grit) in the gutters which could indicate the erosion of asphalt shingles.

As soon as you discover a leak, contact a professional roofer for repairs.  It is far less expensive to patch a small problem area than to repair entire sections of your roof, insulation and drywall from the ceiling area below.