Knowing the condition of your roof is the surest way to determine whether your roof needs repairs or replacement. However, for many homeowners, accessing the roof with a ladder for a close inspection represents an unnecessarily dangerous prospect.

Many roofing contractors recommend homeowners evaluate the condition of their roof by safely viewing it from ground level with the help of a pair of binoculars. Look for these common signs of deterioration to determine if you need to call a roofing contractor:

1. Excessive granule loss. If you can see small piles of black or gray granules in your gutters or collected in your downspouts, it's a sign your roof's shingles have failed or reached the end of their useful life span.

2. Loose or missing shingles. Windstorms and snow and ice damage can cause the nails that affix your shingles to the roof deck to pop out, resulting in loose or missing shingles.

3. Water stains on roof decking. If you can access the unfinished portion of your home's attic, take a look at the underside of your roof decking. If you see signs of water stains, it indicates a roof leak is allowing water to run underneath the shingles.

4. Shingle pops. Shingles that appear to rise above the flat surface of the rest of the roof can indicate impact damage from hail, but they may also indicate inadequate attic ventilation. If attic temperatures rise above 120 degrees, shingles can blister, which looks similar to hail damage.

5. Cracked, loose or worn flashing or gaskets around protrusions like vent stacks and chimneys. Any point where roof shingles meet or abut protrusions has a higher likelihood of failure relative to the entire roof system. Improperly applied or failed caulking or flashing can cause roof leaks.

6. Roof age. Along with the conditions listed above, knowing your roof's age is critical for determining whether or not you should invest in repairs or a roof replacement. Most roofs are designed to last about 25 years at the most, so if your roof is approaching age 20 or more, keep a close eye on its condition and be prepared to replace it.

If your roof exhibits any of these conditions, have it inspected by a highly rated roofing contractor. A thorough assessment by a qualified roofing professional can provide the knowledge you'll need to make a roofing repair or replacement decision.