Without an efficient roof, your home is subject to potential damage that will continue to increase over time. Once a roof membrane is exposed, and seams compromised, future moisture build-up and leaking is eminent.
Your long-term return on investment of a yearly roofing inspection is ten-hold, minimizing expensive repairs or replacements. As with any tear or exposure, time will continue to open the wound until the damage repair is more costly than a full-scale renovation.
If you are attempting to save some money on an inspection and have a relatively new roofing structure, you may be able to inspect various areas of your roofing without professional assistance.
For older roofing, I would recommend consulting with a roofing professional, as many of the issues may need extensive viewing for repair considerations. You should always hire a licensed professional roofer with proper training such as the ones at ReRoof USA to maintain your roof and work on problem areas.
With that said, below are a few important things to look for when inspecting a roofing structure. Problems in these areas may suggest a future need for repair or replacement.
What are the Important Components of Inspection?
The three areas of interest when inspecting a roof are the following:
Drainage Capability – After a thunderstorm or heavy rain, safely investigate the drainage of the roof. Immediately after a heavy rain, your roof will still be draining water – this provides the best opportunity to inspect trouble areas of water accumulation or ponding. You’ll want to make sure water is kept from penetrating the walls of your home or ponding around the perimeter of the roof.
Insulation – Be sure to check the flashing and membrane of the roof for any holes or noticeable exposure to the external elements. Holes, tears, or wear on the insulation is the first sign of potential leakage or heat penetration, ultimately increasing your energy consumption and risk of rodent infestation in your attic.
Structural – The roof is an important part of the structural health of your home. Older homes usually have wooden or shake shingles, which are easy victims of rot and deterioration. If you notice mold, rotting, or warping of shingles, they will need to be replaced quickly to avoid damage to membrane and insulation.
What to Look For?
Shingle Deterioration – Most homes have one of the following materials: cedar, tile, or concrete. If you have a concrete roof, which is rare in the residential U.S. housing market, you should never need replacing as long as the installation was done properly.
On the other hand, cedar roofing is considered the weakest and has the fastest lifespan deficiency – about 20 years. In moist climates, cedar roofs will become mossy and in dry climates the roof will split and fall apart over time.
Your first inspection should be inspecting cracked, bald, or missing shingles. In addition, look for loose material or wear around vents, pipes, and other penetrations. These areas will be the first to flounder with older systems. If you spot shingle granules throughout the roofing structure, particularly in the gutter, you have advanced wear on the structure.
Water Damage – Dark spots and black trails are two signs of potential water damage. Particularly with cedar roofing, rot or mold will suggest moisture and water damage. Mold, fungi, and bacteria can grow and spread quickly, ultimately affecting your entire roof if not managed. In addition, soft spots and roof deck sagging are signs of water saturation and structural failure.
If your roof is soft in areas, water has penetrated into the flashing and membrane, increasing the risk of leakage into the home or potential roof blow-off during wind storms. In addition, cracked caulk or rust spots on flashing is a sure sign of water ponding and leakage. Obviously, sitting water will cause rusting due to oxidation, and the flashing will show signs of wear and rust in concentrated problem areas.
Replacing flashing or boots is extremely expensive, almost 300% more expensive than fixing shingles – therefore, identifying the issue with shingles prior to water penetration on the flashing is imperative.
Drainage Pipes & Cosmetic – Tree limbs fall all the time, and occasionally reach your roof during a wind storm. While inspecting the roof, be sure to remove any big branches or twigs from the structure and drainage gutters.
This will eliminate future problems with water flow off the roof and potential damage from extensive loads. While conducting your inspection, investigate any holes or cracks from falling debris and use a broom to clean out gutters around the perimeter of the structure.
About the author:
The writer, Matthew Hall, is an experienced roofer who recognizes the importance of keeping that often unthought of part of your home in perfect working order. If you’re interested in learning more about Matthew you can visit on Google+.
