1. Water Stains on Ceilings or Upper Walls
Brown or yellow stains near exterior walls, especially in corners or along the eaves line, are the most direct sign of water infiltration. These stains indicate that ice dam water backed up under your shingles and found a path into your insulation and drywall.
Don't wait to see active dripping — stains mean the water has already been there. Have a roofer inspect before you repaint, or you'll be repainting again next spring.
2. Curled, Cracked, or Missing Shingles
Shingles that curl upward at the edges (cupping) or downward at the middle (clawing) have reached end of life. Cracked shingles are caused by thermal cycling — expanding and contracting through hundreds of freeze-thaw cycles — and are common on roofs over 20 years old in NB.
Missing shingles after winter storms are a direct weather-damage issue. Even one missing shingle creates an entry point for water during spring rains.
3. Granule Loss in Gutters
If your gutters fill with gray-black granules every spring, your shingles are shedding their UV-protective coating — a sign of significant age or storm damage. Bare spots on shingles visible from the ground are a clear sign of advanced granule loss.
New shingles shed some granules in the first season. If your roof is more than 10 years old and granule loss is accelerating, it's time for an inspection.
4. Sagging Sections or Soft Spots
A sagging roofline indicates structural damage — either to the rafters or the decking/sheathing. Heavy snow loads, ice dams, or prolonged water infiltration can saturate and rot the OSB decking beneath shingles without any visible exterior sign.
Walk your roofline visually from the ground. Any section that appears to dip or bow inward requires immediate professional inspection — this is a structural issue.
5–8. Flashing Failures, Mould, Ventilation Blockage, and Daylight in the Attic
Flashing failures: Metal flashing around chimneys, vents, and skylights is the most common leak entry point. Thermal cycling causes it to separate from the roof surface. Check for rust stains or caulking that has cracked and pulled away.
Mould or mildew in the attic: Musty smell or visible black/green growth on attic joists means moisture has been present. This signals either an active leak or poor ventilation — both require attention before mould spreads to framing.
Blocked soffit vents: After winter, check that soffit vents are not blocked by insulation or debris. Blocked vents prevent the ventilation that keeps your roof deck cold — the primary ice dam prevention mechanism.
Daylight through the attic: On a bright day, go into your attic and look for light coming through. Any visible light (other than through proper vents) means gaps in the roof structure that allow both water and cold air infiltration.