Tips for your Next Roof Inspection
Your roof is one of the most critical aspects of your home. It helps keep you warm during cold, bitter nights and keeps you dry when the rain falls. You want to make sure it’s in top condition, so it’s ready to protect you, and having an occasional roof inspection does a world of good. Here are some tips for your next roof inspection that you want to consider.
Why Should Perform a Roof Inspection?
You want your roof in top condition at all times, and you don’t want to be surprised with huge problems that suddenly need fixing. Having a roof inspection allows you to find issues with your roof before they become big problems. If you uncover these problems now, you can address them more easily. This saves you time and money long term.
How Often Should I Perform a Roof Inspection?
Doing a roof inspection once per year is acceptable, but it doesn’t hurt to perform other inspections throughout the year. This is especially true after your house has been hit by severe weather like extreme wind or blizzards. If you want to be safe, you can always seek professional help to determine how often a roof inspection will be needed because every roof is different.
What Should Be Inspected on my Roof?
Things you should look into during a roof inspection include flashings, gutters, and droops. The flashings are metal pieces that cover the roof’s curves and edges. If your flashing is damaged, your roof is susceptible to leaking. Openings in your flashing usually mean you have to reseal them using roofing cement.
If your roof has asphalt shingles, you want a professional to inspect your gutters. If they find pieces of shingles in the guttering, the shingles likely need to be replaced.
SPRING ROOF INSPECTION TIPS
Spring Roof Inspection
Spring showers bring…roof leaks? Not how you remember it? Well it’s true and it is especially possible if you skip your spring roof inspection. Winter takes its toll on a roof. Freeze-thaw cycles, heavy snow loads and ice can really cause damage. Even if you live in a warm climate where cold weather damage isn’t a worry, spring is a good time to have your roof inspected so you are ready for the stormy season ahead.
CLEAR DEBRIS
Clear the rooftop of any debris. For best results on GenFlex single ply roofing membranes, use a stiff bristle broom and apply positive downward pressure when clearing accumulated dirt and leaf deposits around drains and scuppers.
TEARS, SPLITS, & PUNCTURES
Look for tears, splits and punctures in the roofing membrane and contact your GenFlex Licensed Contractor as soon as possible to have them repaired. Always be sure to report roof leaks observed inside the building directly to GenFlex Warranty Services, as required by your Roofing System Limited Warranty
SECURE EQUIPMENT
Verify that rooftop equipment is secure and won’t become dislodged in high winds. Although high winds can occur during any month of the year, March through June is the official tornado season, so high winds are more likely during this time of year.
CHECK FLASHINGS
Check metal counter flashings at roof-to-wall transitions, and around rooftop units, vents and skylights. Re-secure areas that are loose or have pulled away and re-seal as needed
What to expect from a professional roof inspection?
Our roofs are vital to the health and well-being of our homes. Without a good roof, our comfort and security would be in jeopardy. However, properly insulating and ventilating our homes and having our roofs inspected regularly can help alert you to potential problems. Spotting and fixing problems early can help your roof stay in good shape and save money on replacement fees.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A PROFESSIONAL ROOF INSPECTION?
When you make an appointment for a professional roof inspection, an experienced roofer will check your roof for signs of wear and tear, wind damage, leaks, and problems that may have occurred during repairs or shingle installation. The examinations for each of these problems makes up the four parts of a roof inspection.
THE FOUR PARTS OF A ROOF INSPECTION
A professional roof inspection has four parts: structural inspection, material inspection, interior inspection, and workmanship inspection.
An expert roofer performing a roof inspection will check for a variety of things, including:
Structural Inspection: An inspector will look for uneven roof planes or signs of sagging. They will also check the gutter system.
Material Inspection: The inspection will check for loose, missing, or curling shingles.
Interior Inspection: This is done inside your home to check the ceilings, attic, and interior walls for water stains, mold, or other signs that water may be leaking inside from the roof.
Workmanship Inspection: For this the inspector will carefully examine your roof for possible workmanship errors that could increase the risk of leaks or other damage.
CAN I INSPECT MY OWN ROOF?
Some homeowners like to inspect their own roof. This can be done, but without proper roofing equipment or professional experience, homeowners who attempt this must be very careful in order to avoid injury.
What is a Roof Certification Inspection?
Roof inspection costs range from free to around $200.
Knowing you have a good roof over your head is the only way to relax when you’re at home, and you should follow these roof inspection hiring tips to get the best deal on your next inspection.
Beware of Storm Chasers
You’re more likely to want to have your roof inspected after your area has been hit by a big storm, and roof inspectors are well aware of this fact. Reputable roof inspectors will stay away and wait for you to call them, but the con men of the roof inspection trade might knock on your door right after a storm. Be skeptical of roof inspection teams that come by your house in the wake of a storm; it’s likely that they’re “storm chasers,” and they probably don’t have your best interests at heart.
Get Multiple Bids
Don’t jump at the first reasonable bid you receive. If you get multiple bids from different companies, you might be able to leverage these bids against each other to get a better deal. When you’re offered estimates by roof inspection companies, make sure that you get them in writing. That way, you’ll be able to cross-reference these bids at your leisure.
Ask for References
Reputable roof inspectors will have plenty of references from customers they’ve served in the past. Follow up with all of the referrals you receive, and then get a wider angle on an inspection company’s reputation by checking their ratings in review sections found online.
Roof Inspections and Selling Your House: Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Most of the time, you don’t give your roof a second thought. You count on it to keep you dry and cool every time it rains or the sun beats down, and that’s totally understandable. However, as soon as you spot a weird stain on your ceiling that you never noticed before, you’ll wish you had paid a little more attention every now and then. If your roof wears down to the point where you need buckets in every room when it rains, you’re already too late.
Taking care of your roof can help you retain the value of your home and save money in the long run. Studies show that preventive roof maintenance can save homeowners thousands of dollars on average each year throughout the lifespan of the roof. Yet homeowners still often neglect this critical part of the home, leading to problems like rotting, sagging and mold outbreaks that can compromise the entire structure and even your family’s health.
When you’re preparing to sell your home, it feels like every potential roadblock carries a ton of weight; when it comes to the state of your roof, however, knowledge is power. An inspection from a licensed roofer puts your mind at ease about the condition of your roof before you even list your home for sale, and can provide the security a prospective buyer needs to feel comfortable making an offer.
We chatted with roofing and real estate experts to get the skinny on some of the most important things to know about your roof inspection, including:
What to expect from a roof inspection
Who to call to perform the inspection
How a roof certification can inform homeowners and reassure homebuyers
Roof inspection vs. home inspection: What’s the difference?
A home inspection is a visual review of an entire property’s main systems and components which evaluates the condition of its plumbing, electrical, HVAC, foundation, and yes, its roof, too.