What to Expect During a Roof Inspection

Considering how important the roof is to the protection of everyone in your home as well as to your possessions, it’s important that you maintain your roof to keep it in good condition. The elements can wear on a roof over the years, after all. If you don’t take care of your roof, it can develop leaks as well as other problems that can result in water damage as well as structural issues.

To prevent such issues from occurring, homeowners will want to schedule an annual roof inspection. The following are the things that you can expect a professional roof inspector to do during a roof inspection:

They will perform an interior roof inspection

Problems with the roof can often be identified from the inside of the attic. The following are some of the things that a roof inspector will check for when performing an interior roof inspection:

• Proper insulation – They will check to see whether your attic is properly insulated by assessing the R-value as well as checking the condition of the insulation. Poor insulation can cause heat to rise into the attic during the winter, which in turn can cause snow to melt on the roof. This could potentially lead to leaks.
• Proper ventilation – Without proper ventilation, moisture can build up, which can result in mold, mildew and rot, all of which can compromise the structural integrity of the roof.
• Rot and mold – The growth of rot and mold is a sign that there’s a leak or that there’s inadequate ventilation.
• Leaks – Leaks are important to identify as they can grow worse over time and can result in potentially serious water damage. They also indicate areas where the roof is damaged. Signs of water damage inside the house indicate that there are roof leaks.
• Structural problems –  If natural light is showing through the roof or if the roof is sagging, then there are structural problems with the roof and may require replacement.

They will perform an exterior roof inspection

While some of the visual inspections performed inside of the home can be done on your own (although a professional will do a much more thorough job), an exterior roof inspection should always be left to a professional. Attempting to inspect the outside of your roof on your own can be very dangerous if you haven’t been properly trained. The following are a few of the things a roof inspector will check for during an exterior roof inspection:

• Improper flashing – Flashing helps prevent water from leaking into open areas on the roof, such as around the chimney or near the vents. The inspector will check the flashing to make sure it’s properly installed and in good condition.
• Shingle condition – The inspector will check the condition of the roofing to make sure that there aren’t any missing, loose, buckling, curling or rotting shingles. Damaged shingles need to be replaced as they leave the roof vulnerable to more damage as well as to water leaks. In some cases, damaged shingles are an indication that the roof needs to be replaced.
• Gutters – In addition to making sure the gutters are in good shape, the inspector will also check to see if there are any shingle granules collecting in the gutters. An excessive amount of loose shingle granules is an indication that the roof’s shingles are wearing down and need to be replaced.

To make sure that your roof remains in good condition for as long as possible, it’s important that you hire a reputable roof inspector in order to perform a thorough roof inspection at least once a year.