After the threat of wintry weather has passed and spring is around the corner, you may have started venturing outside to get an idea of the impact the snow and ice had on your home. As part of these efforts, a visual inspection of your roof can give you an overall assessment as to how well it held up.

Even if your roof appears intact upon first glance, there are a couple of areas at which you should look closely to find damage that warrants a call to a roofing professional.

1.  Check the Metal Flashing Around the Chimney and Vent Pipes for Signs of Damage

One area where you should focus your attention during your springtime roof inspection is the metal flashing around the chimney and vent pipes. These pieces of metal add an extra layer of protection to jointed areas where water can more easily leak inside your home.

While visually inspecting the flashing, look for any bends or cracks in the metal as well as areas where it has pulled away from the surfaces. If you see signs of damage or even rusted areas, you should have a roofing contractor take a look at it to see if the flashing needs to be replaced.

2.  Look Carefully at the Shingles for Ones That Are Cracked or Missing

Another part of your inspection should be the condition of the shingles on the roof. Even if the shingles look intact overall, there may be small areas where they are cracked or even missing.

For this part of the inspection, you may need to either stand on a ladder at the edge of your roof or use a pair of binoculars to get a closer look. If you find any shingles that are damaged or areas where they are no longer attached, a professional inspection needs to be completed.

While performing the initial visual inspection of your home's roof in early spring, if you see any damage to the flashing around the chimney and vent pipes and/or find any areas where the shingles are cracked or missing, you may need to have your roof repaired before water starts leaking into your home. However, since there may be more damage than you can see with your naked eye, you should have a professional fully inspect the roof for you. Contact a roofing contractor in your area to set up an appointment to have them assess the roof for possible damage and discuss with you options for fixing any they may find.