The roof is literally out of sight and, therefore, out of mind. Most homeowners often put off getting a roof inspection until they see something wrong. Given the general distrust in the roofing industry, most people are afraid of being upsold on a new roof. But the reality of your roof’s condition is something that should be understood before visible issues actually arise. By having a pre-emptive roof inspection, you might save yourself time, money, and a lot of troubles in the long run by keeping your home in prime condition.
This winter, when the weather starts to ramp up and bring storms and heavy rain, it would be a good idea to schedule an inspection of your roof and seek out ways to protect your home against these potential issues. If you’ve never had a roof inspection before, you could rightfully feel a little uncertain about what to expect. We’re going to walk you through everything you need to know concerning getting a roof inspection, from its importance to the things it involves. By the end, you will be empowered to tackle the process with confidence.
What is a Roof Inspection?
A roof inspection is when a professional comes to check on the condition of your roof. Basically, it is done to find out whether your roof is performing the way it is supposed to, note any problems that may need to be addressed before minor problems become major ones.
This reason, most of the time, is based on assessing the remaining life of a roof, determining leaks, or understanding storm damage. He will check the structural integrity of the roof, material condition and any interior damages in the inspection. Roofing contractors provide roof inspections as an added service, which they use with their advantage of roof repair, replacement, and installation services.
Sometimes, however, they may require those unnecessary services for their benefit. That is why you only have to deal with local, reliable, and well-known roofing contractors. Avoid scamming roofing companies.
The frequency of inspection depends on a few factors. For example, homeowners who live in areas with extreme weather conditions like New Jersey should have their roofs inspected more often.
While you can review for a trusted contractor in your areas, for those in New Jersey, we recommend Boundless Roofing & Chimney. It is a top-rated roofing company in Rockaway.
When Should I Have My Roof Inspected?
- Roof inspections are like a race against time, in which timing is of utmost importance. Here are some common situations where a roof inspection is necessary:
- Before Winter Season: Keep in mind that the winter season is accompanied by extremely high and low temperatures, storms, and heavy rain, which can cause the roofs to wear and tear. Hence, having the roof inspected is a must before winter to guarantee that your house is protected from the harsh weather conditions.
- After a Storm: In case your home has been damaged by a severe storm, your home insurance will request that an inspection be conducted to determine the extent of the damage, and then they will process your claim. The insurance company is typically the one who sends their inspector to examine the claim, but you have the option to get another inspection with a contractor of your choice.
- Routine Inspection: The life expectancy of a roofing material is not uniform- some materials last longer than others. The moment your roof gets 50% of its lifespan, it is advisable to have it checked and rechecked every 3-4 years, or occasionally even more, if your residence is situated in a high wind storm region. Typically, it would be best to plan for an inspection before winter in order to have more time for necessary repairs.
- Roof Appraisal: A roof inspection can be a great source of information to have when buying a house or selling one. Sellers can use the most recent inspection report as a selling point, while buyers can get a report that is backed up with images and up-to-date information that will help them see all the issues before they become a problem.
- Before Winter Season: The season might appear with highs and lows in temperatures, strong winds, and a great amount of rain. Make sure that your roof will undergo the necessary technical inspection if you want to avoid your house roof costs, which might be very high.
- After a Storm: If the storm was severe and your house had been struck, it would first examine the claims and ascertain the amount of damage to your house before the process of making a claim to the insured takes place. The claim will typically be in reimbursement of the insurance company’s insured loss, and then the insurance company will send an inspector. Yet you can also have a second inspector of your choice in the inspection.
- Routine Inspection: The roofing materials indeed vary in their durability, some are very short-lived while some are longer. Your roof is approaching its later stage, and this is the best time to have an inspection at least every three to four years or more according to the conditions of the weather in that area. Winter is the best time to schedule inspections because it gives you a margin to fix any problems that might arise.
- Roof Appraisal: Are you buying or selling a home? In this case, the roof inspection is a good source of information about the roof’s condition. On the seller’s end, it is possible to show the customers a current detailed inspection report as a selling point and they can prevent the new loneers from unexpected expenses and headaches.
What Happens During a Roof Inspection?
Undergoing a roof inspection goes by such typical processes as:
Exterior Inspection: The inspector scouts the outside of the roof for anything lobstered, peeled, grown greener, or sullied with moss like hurricane-aftermath-incomplete shingle panels, cracks, moss or algae growth, and the condition of the flashing around chimneys, vents, gutters and downspouts, skylights and more.
Interior Inspection: By the way, the inspector makes sure the attic and ceilings are in good condition by checking them for water headlines, moisture, mold, and efficient insulation and ventilation.
Structural Assessment: The inspector checks the integrity of the roof physically and checks the walls for any leaks, areas that are sagging or damaged support structure.
Report and Recommendations: In the case of the examination, a comprehensive report indicating any defects found will be given to you as a client, and the recommendations for remodeling, maintenance, or replacement will be made.
Key Elements of a Roof Inspection
For each inspection of the roof may be the unique reason you would want to inspect the roof, the following points are the ones that should be under the scrutiny:
Number of Layers: The inspector will see especially up close how many layers of roofing you have at the moment. In the supposition that the roofing material is worn out, special attention in the work will not be enough for sufficiency.
Drip Edge: If a drip edge is installed right along the edge, the water remains to be led away instead of mixing with fascia and roofing parts.
Roof Decking Condition: The inspector will determine if the deck is solid or spongy, which means there is some problem that needs to be fixed.
Roofing Material: The sustainability and temporary trends of the roofing material will be tested to give an approximate time while discovering any immediate safeties.
Roof Penetrations and Skylights: Besides flashing, the roofing inspector will ensure that all penetrating items such as chimneys and vent pipes must be sealed properly in a leak-free manner.
Rooftop Lead Flashing: The roofing technician will examine the flashing around the areas of the chimney, walls will be looked into for any rust and integrity of them assessed.
Gutters and Downspouts: The inspector will be on the lookout for any leakage and locating cracks, open duct seams, or any blockages that may hinder the flow of rainfall from the rooftop to the ground.
Fascia and Soffits: The property inspector will examine these sensitive layers of the building for any damages such as rot, pieces that have cracked, or warped ones that might need to be replaced.
Ventilation System: The cooling of a roof can be properly done with the correct ventilation of the roof. Thus, the roofing materials will be checked for ventilation.
Attic Space: It is required to check for any moisture or rain that comes above the ceiling from the attic which leads to the development of wet spots. The ventilation of the attic being included the state of the roof decking will be checked for the signs of leaks and excess moisture.
Condition of Windows and Chimneys: Skylights and chimneys will undergo inspection also with the sole purpose of inspecting them to avoid other roof works that may need to be done later.
What Is the Duration and Cost of a Roof Inspection?
It can last 1-2 hours in general sometimes longer or shorter if the roof is big or if there are a lot of things in the way which make it more complex. Moreover, a larger house or a steeper roof, which are hard to inspect, usually need a longer time to inspect a defect due to the size and difficulty of finding them. Inspection of the roof price differs mostly from $120 to $400, not considering the company’s position and the specific inspection reasons.
As far as the issue of conducting regular roof inspections is concerned, it is suggested that you have your roof evaluated annually or every two to three years once. Regular inspections, especially before and after harsh weather, keep your roof in good condition for a longer time than it would have lasted.
Finding a Reputable Roofer
Now that you understand what to expect during a roof inspection, the next step is finding a reputable roofer. Here’s how to ensure you hire someone trustworthy:
- Make certain that the contractor is insured and bonded.
- Ask about warranties for both labor and materials.
- Check out the licenses of the contractor.
- Look up customer reviews on Trustpilot, Google Reviews among other sites.
- Check Better Business Bureau to look for ratings and complaints regarding a company you are interested in.
- Always get estimates from at least three local contractors.
- Always go through their previous work as well as how they respond to negative remarks made by customers.
These steps will enable you confidently pass through a roof inspection process ensuring your home remains safe-guarded and in good shape.