Roofing Tips & Guides
Expert Roofing Advice for Charlotte Homeowners
Learn from Charlotte's trusted roofing experts. Tips on maintenance, repair, replacement, and protecting your home from the elements.
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Learn from Charlotte's trusted roofing experts. Tips on maintenance, repair, replacement, and protecting your home from the elements.
February in North Carolina is a strange month. One week we're dealing with the worst snowfall in decades. The next week, temps are pushing 60 degrees. And before you know it, April showers are here with a vengeance.
That's why February is the perfect time to give your roof some attention. Think of it as spring training for your home. Just like baseball teams get ready before opening day, your roof needs a pre-season tune-up before the heavy rains arrive.
Here in Charlotte and around Lake Norman, we've learned this lesson the hard way. Spring storms don't mess around in North Carolina. And if your roof has even small problems left over from winter, those April downpours will find every weak spot.
Let me walk you through exactly what to check, what to fix, and when to call in the pros.
After the historic 2026 snowstorm we just experienced, your roof has been through a lot. Heavy snow weight. Ice buildup. Freeze-thaw cycles. Tree branches snapping under the load.
All of that creates problems that might not show up right away.
A small crack in a shingle doesn't leak when it's frozen. But when warm spring rain hits? That crack becomes a river into your attic. A slightly loose flashing around your chimney? Winter wind might have made it worse. And you won't know until water starts dripping down your living room wall.
The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends inspecting your roof twice a year: spring and fall. February gives you time to catch issues before the spring rain season starts in earnest.
Plus, roofing contractors are usually less slammed in February than they are in April and May. You'll get faster service. Better scheduling. More attention to your specific situation.
Here's your game plan. Some of these you can do yourself. Others need professional eyes. I'll tell you which is which.
You don't need to climb up on your roof to spot most problems. In fact, we don't recommend it. One wrong step and you're dealing with a hospital bill instead of a roofing bill.
Grab some binoculars and walk around your house. Look for:
Missing or damaged shingles. After the wind and snow we just had, this is common. Look for bare spots, curled edges, or shingles that look darker or different than the rest.
Sagging areas. Any part of your roof that looks like it's dipping or sagging needs immediate professional attention. That could mean structural damage from snow weight.
Granules in your gutters. If you see what looks like coarse sand or gravel in your gutters or downspouts, that's the protective coating coming off your shingles. It's a sign your roof is aging.
Dark streaks or green patches. These are algae and moss. They don't just look bad: they hold moisture against your shingles and speed up wear.
Leaves, sticks, pine needles, and other debris trap moisture. That moisture sits against your shingles for days or weeks. And moisture is the enemy of every roofing material.
If you're comfortable on a ladder and your roof pitch isn't too steep, you can use a roof rake or leaf blower to clear debris. Work from the edges toward the center, and never walk on a wet or icy roof.
Around Lake Norman, we see tons of homes surrounded by beautiful trees. That's great for shade and property value. But it means more debris lands on your roof. If you've got oak trees or pine trees nearby, plan on clearing your roof at least twice before summer.
For homes in neighborhoods like Cornelius or Davidson with mature tree canopies, this is especially important.
Gutters are the unsung heroes of your roofing system. They move thousands of gallons of water away from your home every year. But they only work if they're clean and properly attached.
Here's what to check:
Clear out all debris. Put on gloves and scoop out leaves, twigs, and that weird black sludge that builds up. Then flush your gutters with a hose to make sure water flows freely to the downspouts.
Check for leaks and separation. Run water through your gutters and watch for drips at the seams. Also check where gutters connect to your fascia board. Loose brackets or separated joints mean water's not going where it should.
Test the slope. Water should flow toward downspouts without pooling. If you see standing water in sections of your gutter, they need to be adjusted. The standard is about 1/4 inch of slope for every 10 feet of gutter.
Inspect downspouts. Make sure they're firmly attached. And more importantly, make sure they extend at least 4 to 6 feet away from your foundation. If water dumps right next to your house, you're asking for foundation problems and basement leaks.
Around Charlotte, clay soil expands and contracts with moisture. Poor downspout drainage can cause foundation cracks and settling over time.
Flashing is the metal or rubber material installed around chimneys, skylights, roof vents, and anywhere else something pokes through your roof. It's designed to create a watertight seal.
But flashing is also one of the most common failure points on a roof.
Look for:
Rust or corrosion on metal flashing (especially around chimneys)
Gaps or cracks where flashing meets the roof or wall
Loose or missing sections (wind can pull these up over time)
Dried-out caulk or sealant that's cracked or peeling
If you see any of these issues, it's time to call a professional. Flashing repair isn't a DIY job. Done wrong, it creates bigger leaks than you started with.
According to building science researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, improper flashing accounts for nearly 40% of water intrusion issues in residential roofing systems.
Your attic tells you things your roof's exterior doesn't. Grab a flashlight and spend 10 minutes up there. You're looking for:
Water stains on the underside of your roof deck or on rafters
Daylight coming through gaps or holes
Mold or mildew smell (means moisture is getting in somewhere)
Damaged or compressed insulation (could indicate a past leak)
Ice buildup on the underside of the roof deck (means you have ventilation problems)
Many Charlotte-area homes have dark, cramped attics. But even a quick peek can reveal problems that aren't visible from outside.
If you're in a Lake Norman waterfront home with a vaulted ceiling or cathedral roof design, you might not have attic access. In that case, a professional inspection becomes even more important.
Here's the thing about roof damage: most of it is invisible to untrained eyes.
A pro knows where to look. We know what normal wear looks like versus what needs immediate attention. We can spot a failing seal around a vent pipe that you'd walk right past. We understand how different roofing materials age and what to watch for.
At Best Roofing Now, our free inspections include:
We're not here to sell you a new roof if you don't need one. We're here to tell you the truth about what's going on up there.
We serve the entire Charlotte area and Lake Norman region, including Huntersville, Cornelius, and Davidson.
The Charlotte metro and Lake Norman area both get their share of spring rain. But they face different roofing challenges.
Charlotte homes deal with:
Lake Norman homes face:
Both areas need the same basic spring prep. But if you're on the lake, pay extra attention to flashing, seals, and any metal components that might corrode faster in the humid environment.
Let me be real with you. Most people skip spring roof prep. They figure "if it ain't leaking, why worry about it?"
Then April hits. May hits. We get those classic North Carolina afternoon thunderstorms that dump 2 inches in an hour.
And suddenly there's a drip in the ceiling. A stain spreading across the drywall. Water running down inside a wall.
By the time you see a leak inside your house, the damage has been happening for a while. Water travels. It might be getting in near your chimney but not show up until it's soaked through insulation, run along a rafter, and found a crack in your ceiling 10 feet away.
At that point, you're not just fixing a roof problem. You're dealing with:
A $300 flashing repair in February becomes a $3,000 interior restoration project in May.
I'm not trying to scare you. I'm trying to save you money and headache.
One of the most frustrating calls we get is from homeowners who say "I saw this problem last month but thought it could wait."
Roofing problems never get better on their own. They only get worse.
A single cracked shingle? Easy fix in February. By June, water's gotten under it, damaged the underlayment, and now you're replacing a whole section.
A gutter that's pulling away from the fascia board? Quick re-attachment now. Wait until spring storms, and water's been running behind it for weeks, rotting the fascia, and possibly damaging the roof edge.
According to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, preventive maintenance extends roof life by an average of 5 to 7 years. That's thousands of dollars saved just by catching small issues early.
Look, I respect the DIY spirit. I really do. Some homeowners are handy and careful and know their limits.
But roofs are dangerous. Every year, thousands of people end up in emergency rooms because they fell off a roof or a ladder.
Here's my rule of thumb: if the problem is on your roof surface (not just your gutters), call a pro. The risk isn't worth it.
We've got the right ladders. The right safety equipment. Insurance coverage. And years of experience working on steep pitches in all weather conditions.
You can absolutely do the ground-level visual inspection, clear your gutters, and check your attic. Those are safe, useful contributions to your home's health.
But climbing up on the roof itself? Leave that to us. Our free inspection costs you nothing and gives you peace of mind.
When we come out for a spring roof inspection, here's what we do:
We look at everything. Not just the obvious spots. We check every penetration, every flashing detail, every valley, every edge. We look at your ventilation system. We examine your attic from inside.
We document what we find. You get photos of any problem areas. A written explanation of what's going on. Clear information about what's urgent versus what can be monitored.
We explain your options. Maybe you need a quick repair. Maybe a section needs replacement. Maybe your whole roof is near the end of its life and we need to start planning for a full replacement. We'll be straight with you.
We never pressure you. Our job is to give you the information you need to make smart decisions about your home. Not to scare you into buying something you don't need.
That's the Best Roofing Now difference. We're veteran-owned and locally operated. This is our community. Your neighbors are our neighbors. We're here for the long haul, not the quick sale.
If you've read our other blog posts about emergency repairs after storms or DIY storm checks, you know we're all about education and transparency.
Here's exactly what to do this month:
Week 1: Do your ground-level visual inspection. Walk around the house with binoculars. Make notes of anything that looks off.
Week 2: Clean your gutters and test your downspouts. This is a great weekend project if the weather's decent.
Week 3: Check your attic. Look for any signs of water intrusion or ventilation problems.
Week 4: Schedule your professional inspection. Get on the calendar before March and April get crazy.
If you follow this plan, you'll be ahead of 90% of homeowners in the Charlotte and Lake Norman area.
And when those spring storms roll through, you'll sleep better knowing your roof is ready.
The worst time to think about your roof is when water's dripping on your head.
February gives you breathing room. The urgency of winter is behind you. The chaos of spring storm season hasn't started yet.
It's the perfect window to take care of your home.
Your roof protects everything you value. Your family. Your belongings. Your investment. It deserves a little attention before the rain season starts.
We make it easy. Our inspections are free. Our recommendations are honest. And our repairs are backed by our lifetime workmanship warranty.
Ready to get your roof in spring-ready shape? Call us at (704) 286-8106 or visit bestroofingnow.com to schedule your free February inspection. We serve Charlotte, Lake Norman, Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, and the surrounding areas. Let's make sure your roof is ready before April showers arrive. ✅
Best Roofing Now
Charlotte's trusted roofing experts since 2019
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