According to statistics, a new home is one of the most expensive purchases in your lifetime*. When you factor in related costs like property taxes, repairs, remodeling, association fees, insurance and furnishings, the cost increases exponentially. Given this, it makes a lot of sense for you to take any and all proactive steps to protect your largest investment—your home.
One of the best ways to avoid future maintenance expenses is for you to perform a seasonal roof inspection. An integral part of your home, structural deficiencies from ill-maintained roofs can be extremely costly, nevermind disruptive to the total enjoyment of your home if leaks, heat seepage and other issues arise. Onsite roof inspections, conducted by trained professionals, ensure your roof is in good shape for upcoming seasonal weather challenges like rain, snow, sleet, hail and high winds.
Check out these helpful tips below to learn more about roof inspections and what to expect when you have one performed on your home.
1. What activities are included in a roof inspection?
At the onset, your roofing contractor will ask you to explain any issues you’ve noticed or items for which you want them to pay special attention--like a recurring leak inside the house, molded areas or puddling lakes on the roof’s surface. Leaks are a great source of information to determine the possible original source of a roof issue.
The roofing contractor will then conduct a thorough inspection based on the type of roof system you have - for example a flat roof or a shingle roof. In general, they pay close attention to the quality of the roof’s substrate material and inspect its quality and form. They will review the protective material that adheres to the shape of your roof, identify any holes or tears, review flashing, shingles and other protective components along with the gutter and downspout elements etc. All of these items must work together to ensure that water properly drains away from the house and into the allocated drainage system.
2. How do you select a contractor for a roof inspection?
First, the contractor should have an actual “physical” address. A P.O. Box is not sufficient and may hint that the contractor is transient or less than legitimate - which could be an issue if you ever need to follow-up with them.
Also, to ensure a quality and safe experience, select a roofing contractor that is both licensed by the State (in which the job will be performed) and can provide proof of having Liability and Workman's Compensation insurance. Online reviews, community forums and home improvement vendor sites (like Angie’s List) are also smart places to collect “unsponsored” feedback on roofing contractors. And finally, your neighbors are a good source of information. They can speak candidly about their experiences with a local provider regarding related costs, timelines and overall delivery etc.
3. When to schedule a roof inspection?
Roof inspections should be conducted well in advance of major seasonal shifts, not during extremely cold temperatures and on dry roofs without any precipitation--rain, snow etc. It’s very popular to schedule roof inspections in early autumn as seasonal gutter maintenance can be conducted in tandem. And, if an Indian Summer is underway, inspections can still be done until it gets below freezing.
4. What information can I expect after the roofing inspection?
Typically, the roof contractor will take pictures of any issues to be able to show you areas of immediate or long-term concern. As a cross check, you might ask for pictures in advance of the roofing team mounting the roof to make sure all expectations are clear. After a discussion of the issues, you’ll make your decision and proceed accordingly.
5. Are roofing inspections expensive?
Roof inspection rates vary significantly by region but on average consumers can expect to pay between $100 and up. Providers often offer promotions and may include a discounted rate if the inspection results in future repairs. The good news - inspections offer a homeowner peace of mind that their roof is physically strong for seasonal weather and helps them avoid costs for problems that may have gone unnoticed overtime.
6. What if they find something wrong during the roof inspection? Do I have to get it fixed right away?
The purpose of the inspection is to proactively identify any roof issues so that they can be corrected to avoid future costly damage. Your roofing contractor will provide you with an assessment of the issue, if any, along with a recommended fix and related timeline. Based on the issue, a quick fix might be in order, or perhaps a patch to get you over the cold winter months, with a commitment to do more extensive work in the spring and summer months. When working with a trusted roofing contractor, all options are considered to result in the most optimal outcome for everyone.
Next Steps
Do you have any related questions or do you want to schedule a roof inspection? Elite Roofing is here to help. Please contact us at (201) 436-1011 or via email eliteroofinginc@hotmail.com for further assistance.
* Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/most-expensive-things-americans-will-pay-for-2019-8#1-buying-and-selling-a-house-7