You need a roofer in Denver when you see water inside (ceiling stains, streaks on walls, damp attic insulation), when the roof shows missing, creased or curling shingles, loose flashing or lots of granules in the gutters, or after any storm with hail or high wind. Some signs mean call this week, others mean book an inspection before the next storm season. Below are ten signs, what each one means, and what you can safely check yourself from the ground.
Inside the house: call soon
- Ceiling or wall stains. Brown rings or streaks mean water has reached the drywall. The leak may be several feet away from the stain, because water runs along decking and framing first.
- Bulging or soft drywall. Water has been collecting for a while. Keep people and furniture clear and call promptly.
- Daylight or damp insulation in the attic. Look with a flashlight after a rain or a snowmelt. Wet insulation loses its value and can grow mold.
- Peeling paint around skylights and chimneys. These are flashing problems more often than shingle problems.
Outside the house: book an inspection
- Missing, lifted or creased shingles, especially at the edges and ridge after a windstorm. A crease means the shingle bent back and lost its seal.
- Granules piling up in gutters and at downspouts. Some shedding is normal on a new roof; heavy loss on an older roof means the shingles are wearing out or took hail.
- Dents in gutters, vents and downspouts after a storm. Soft metals show hail size; if they are dented, the shingles may be too.
- Curling, cracked or brittle shingles. Sun and age have made them vulnerable to wind and small hail.
- Loose or rusted flashing at walls, chimneys and vents.
- Overdriven or exposed nails. Nails driven too deep by a nail gun cut into the shingle and let it pull free in wind. Exposed nail heads rust and leak.
What you can check safely
Stay off the roof. Walk the yard after storms looking for shingle pieces and granules, check gutters and downspouts from a ladder at the eave if you are comfortable, look at the roof from across the street, and go into the attic with a flashlight. Photograph and date everything you find; that matters if it becomes an insurance claim.
Why some Denver roofs fail early
Denver’s climate is hard on roofs: downslope winds in winter, hail in summer, strong sun at altitude and heavy spring snow. Our article on what damages roofs most in Denver explains each threat. Installation mistakes make every one of them worse: low-grade underlayment, poorly installed flashing, shingles that never sealed, and nails set wrong. Denver’s code addresses several of these, requiring wind-rated shingles by zone, at least four nails per strip and specific flashing at walls and chimneys.
Repair or replace, and the permit
A few shingles or one flashing detail is usually a repair. Denver requires a permit when a repair covers more than 10 percent of the roof or two squares, whichever is smaller, and for any new roof penetration. If damage is spread across slopes, or the roof is near the end of its life, replacement is usually the better money. Our planning guide for a new Denver roof and Denver roof types comparison help with that decision. For the routine that prevents many of these signs, see roof maintenance in Colorado.
When storm damage is involved
If a storm caused the damage, have it inspected and documented before you decide on a claim; see should I call my insurance company for an inspection?. When you are ready to hire, how to choose a roofer in Denver lists the checks.
Call our Denver-area office
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. We respond the same business day. Call (303) 209-0152, book a free Denver roof inspection, or see Denver roof repair.
Sources: City and County of Denver, Roofing Guide and Checklist, updated 4/11/2024 (repair permits, penetrations, coatings, wind ratings, nailing, flashing).
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