Whether you’re new to the world of property maintenance or a seasoned homeowner, conducting regular roof inspections is crucial for the safety of your house. Roof issues often go unnoticed, and if they prevail, they might cause unfortunate consequences.
In this guide, we’ll take you through 5 roof inspection tips to help you find any issues early. If you find out that your roofing needs maintenance, check out our services here!
A Detailed Roof Inspection Guide: 5 Tips You Need to Know
If you plan on DIY-ing your way through roof inspection, there are a few tips you should know to make sure you don’t miss anything. Here’s a brief roundup of them.
1. Keep a Checklist of the Items You Need to Inspect
Roofs consist of many parts and materials, and a lot of them need regular inspections. Here’s a quick checklist of the most important items to help you keep track of them.
Inspect the Gutters
Gutters are among the most important roofing parts to inspect. They’re susceptible to many issues like blockages and leakages, and the occurrence of any of them threatens the integrity of your roof.
First, check whether your gutters are blocked by leaves and dirt and whether there’s standing water. Then, look for cracks that might cause leakages. If you find any of these issues, contact a reputable roofing contractor because you might need to replace the gutters.
Check the Ventilation in Your Attic
If your attic has poor ventilation, hot or cold air might get trapped inside, which can cause roofing issues over time. That’s why during your roof inspection, you need to check that air is coming out of the vent pipes normally.
Look for Roof Stains
For proper inspection of your roof, you should look for water stains on the shingles. The appearance of stains on your roof mostly indicates a water leakage, which might be coming from the attic. If left untreated, water leakages can cause major issues that result in an entire roof replacement. You don’t need to take any drastic steps; a simple visual inspection will do.
Inspect the Roof Shingles
If you have any broken or missing shingles, water might seep into your roof and cause wood rot or extensive damage. During your inspection, you should take a look at your asphalt shingles and make sure all is well. Other odd sights you should keep an eye out for are any curling, buckling, or cracking shingles.
Check Your Roof Flashing
Roof flashing is a thin layer of metal placed underneath the shingles as extra protection against water damage. Over time, rain and wind can cause flashing to be exposed and cracked, which leaves an opening for water to leak inside your house. To avoid such an occurrence, you should check your flashing every time you inspect your roof.
Unfortunately, flashing issues are challenging to DIY, so if you find any, you should contact a professional roofing company.
Take a Look at the Chimney
Chimneys can wear and crack because of natural factors like constant exposure to sunlight or heavy rain and snow. If it happens, toxic gases might seep into your house. That’s why it’s crucial you take a look at your chimney and make sure its mortared joints and cap are intact.
Keep in mind that chimneys require different materials and techniques for repair than standard roofs, so they’re best left to professional roofing companies.
Inspect Your Skylight
If you have an installed skylight atop your roof, you need to inspect it thoroughly for leaks. Flawed installations or fallen objects can cause the glass window to separate from its frame and leave a tiny gap through which water might enter your house.
2. Prioritize Your Safety
Inspecting a roof includes getting up on it, which is a risky move if you’re inexperienced. You should ensure your ladder is in excellent condition, wear proper footwear to avoid slipping and have someone stand by in case of an emergency. Also, always keep in mind that it’s safer to hire a professional.
3. Choose Your Time
Roof inspections should always take place in daylight and in good weather. Under no conditions should you get up on a roof during rain, snow, or heavy winds. Natural light will help you detect visual issues faster, and dry weather will protect you from slipping.
4. Keep Notes of Your Findings
For insurance purposes, you should keep note of all the issues you find on your roof, especially ones caused by nature. Most insurance policies cover damage inflicted by natural causes only, like storms and earthquakes.
Also, if you want to get professional repairs, you’ll need to keep all issues documented to avoid forgetting any details.
5. Consider Hiring a Professional Roof Inspector
While DIY roof inspections are possible, it’s always better to hire a professional every couple of years. Roofing inspectors have the expertise to identify potential issues that can go unnoticed in a DIY inspection. Also, they know safety instructions by heart and follow them strictly, minimizing the risk of accidents.
How Much Does a Professional Roof Inspection Cost?
Roof inspections can cost you anywhere from $70 to $600, with the most common number averaging $200. The exact price you pay depends on the size of your roof, the average roofer’s wages where you live, and the type of inspection you need.
Most homeowners are fine with a physical inspection only. However, some roofs are too high and steep for a physical job, so they require drone inspections, which are pricier.
To Wrap Up
Regular DIY roof inspections, combined with occasional professional expertise, are essential to keep your house in good shape. By keeping a checklist of the items you should inspect, documenting your findings, and getting professional help every now and then, you guarantee a successful inspection.
Finally, because we care about the safety of your roof, we run free roof inspections. You can reserve a date and time on our website now!
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