All property owners should conduct a once a year roof inspection. Annual roof inspections are needed to make sure your roof is good working condition. Property owners should also inspect their roof after any high powered storm.

Using binoculars is a great way to get close enough to see the details on your roof without having to get onto the roof. You want to make sure that your shingles are laying flat. You should also check all the vents on the roof. If there are any bird nests in those vents they need to be removed. Even if the birds are not getting into the home they are blocking the air flow.

While you're at it, homeowners should also inspect their attics. You want to make sure that your attic is dry, clean and free of unwanted tenants.

Here are the top five signs you should have your roof looked at by a professional:

1. Your roof is more than 20 years old.
   
2. There are more shingle granules than normal on the ground or at the end of your downspouts. (Dark patches on your shingles are a sign of granule loss.)
   
3. You can see missing shingle corners, broken shingles tabs, or curling shingles
   
4. You see rust on chimney flashings, valley flashings and heat stacks
   
5. There is algae growth and moss on the shingles