Oversee Your Roofing Inspector – How to Inspect a Roof

How about some practical boots-on-the-ground roofing inspection tips?  How do you inspect a roof properly as a professional roofing inspector would go about the job?  Tips from a professional roofing inspector point you in the right direction.

How about some practical boots-on-the-ground roofing inspection tips?  I certainly am no expert in fixing up houses. My first rehab that I tried to personally oversee was a mess! But today I want to take the ‘white gloves’ off and tell you how to inspect a roof properly as a professional roofing inspector would go about the job. Then you can know what’s going on when you hire a professional, which you should, to do the roofing on your fix up properties for you.

To start with the basics, a sturdy and well-constructed home’s roof should at the minimum have adequate structural support to the rafters, quality roof decking, and a well-sealed roof covering.  As for roof coverings, asphalt shingles are most common and come in a variety of weights, thicknesses, and varying degrees of quality. The contractors I’ve worked with who produced the prettiest and sturdiest results have shared that they shoot for higher quality shingles in most instances, even if that means paying a higher price. Doing this helps to avoid deterioration of these vital parts of the roofing in a shorter time than you expected (or budgeted for).

The first and most obvious deterioration of asphalt shingles is frequently the loss of surface granules, which can become brittle and lose their tensile strength.  Check for the wear and tear that happens in the narrow grooves between tabs or sections of the shingle itself, or in the space between two shingles in a row.

Be careful when inspecting so that potential shingle decay doesn’t penetrate further as it might extend completely through to the roof boards or decking without showing during a casual or visual inspection.  That’s why a thorough roofing inspection requires that some shingles need to be pulled up to check beneath the decking.

It’s a great idea to do a thorough roof inspection before buying any new property,
typically this is best left to professionals. But anyone can tell if it’s raining inside the house and that a problem exists. If the exterior roof is leaking a bunch, it should be obvious from water damage to the house interior.  The biggest problem to look out for is lots of water damage.  Anything smaller is much more manageable.  However, small leaks may not be readily noticeable and if left unchecked can cause costly damage at a later date. That’s where it pays to have someone experienced eyeballing smaller problems that can turn into bigger ones if unchecked.

The point here is that a professional should take a look when you’re about to buy a new house. But educate yourself so you’ll know what to expect and look for which will insulate you from being taken for a ride by any unscrupulous contractor telling you something while thinking you don’t know anything.

These typical roofing inspection walk-though tips were gleaned from speaking with a roofing inspector and contractor who has worked with me a number of times and earned my trust.

A proper roof inspection should include looking for any sub-par conditions in the accessible areas of the roof framing or structure, insulation, and ventilation features, plus the interior of the house areas that might be affected by any potential roofing issues. Below are common important tips you or your roofing professional should be assessing: 

•    Type of roofing material used
•    Expected usage life and deficiencies of employed material(s)
•    Type of framing structure (e.g. prefabricated trusses and/or conventional frame)
•    Evidence of possible deficiencies with framing or trusses
•    Gutters and downspouts—are they corroded, damaged, or missing?
•    Signs of water leakage evident around the chimneys
•    Water stains on the ceilings around the perimeter of the home
•    Visibly cracked or split shingles
•    Peeling shingles or ones that are clearly or warped at the corners
•    Shingles excessively covered with tar or sap
•    Fungus anywhere in roofing materials, trusses, framing, or interior areas under roof
•    Roof drainage: how and where does the roof drain water off?
•    Excessive “ponding” (i.e. standing water areas on roof)
•    Obstructed drains that might cause water to be trapped
•    Missing or run-down rain gutters, downspouts or related material
•    Working status of ventilation openings and systems
•    Does anything obstruct attic access?
•    Insulation existence, type and thickness
•    Sagging, buckled or warped roof decking
 
You can use these as a checklist on any preliminary roofing inspections on your own home or on a potential investment property purchase. You’ll be glad you did!

Article Tags: Roofing Inspector, Roofing Inspection

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