Why Roof Inspections Are Important

Regular roof inspections can extend the expected lifespan of your roofing material!

The importance of roof inspections cannot be understated. As a homeowner, the roof over your head is what protects you and your family from the elements.

There are many different ways that a roof can be damaged or compromised. Sometimes, this damage can be seen from the ground outside. Missing shingles, or sections that are lifting, can be spotted by a homeowner without the need to clamber around on the roof. However, not all damage will be so visible. For the health of your roof, and your peace of mind, a professional roofing contractor should perform a roof inspection annually.

What To Expect From A Roof Inspection

When reaching out to a roofing contractor for an inspection, there are several things that you should expect. A professional roofer will check for leaks and obvious damage to the shingles, but there are many other areas a quality roofing contractor will look at during a roof inspection.

• Attic Inspection: The composition of your roof is far more than just the shingles, and as such, a professional roofer will spend time checking out the attic and support structures of your roof. An inspection will be done for sagging or rotting wood, the condition of the soffit, fascia and flashing. If your home has a masonry chimney, this is the time to have it checked as well--for cracks, crumbling mortar, spalling brick and deteriorating chimney caps. The inspector will also likely check on the attic vents, as improper venting practices can lead to moisture and mold within the attic.
• Material Inspection: Once on the roof, a professional roofer will check on the condition of the roofing material itself. A roofing contractor will look for missing, flapping, curling, cracking or broken shingles as well as shingle granules collecting in the gutter systems. Clogging gutters, loose and lifting shingles and deteriorating flashing can all lead to serious water damage issues if not quickly caught and fixed.
• Workmanship Inspection: During this time, the professional roof inspector will check on the installation of the roofing material itself, and any subsequent repairs that have been done to the roof previously.
• Roofing Analysis: There are several issues that commonly befall roofs. These include:

• • • Loose, broken or missing roofing material.
    • Blistered, curled or split shingles.
    • Improper venting and ventilation system installation.
    • Sagging roof planes.
    • Loose, missing or corroded roof flashing.
    • Depressions near roofing vents.
    • Broken, deteriorated rubber vent booting.

At the end of the full inspection, your roofing contractor will provide you with a full workup of the condition of the roof and any work that is needed. With this step-by-step write up, you and your contractor will be able to decide the best possible course of action, together.

Roofing inspections cover more than just the roofing material, but the entire structure of the roof itself, including the attic.

What Roof Inspections Do For You

Roof inspections have numerous benefits. While it may be easy to forget about the condition of your roof until an issue makes itself known, it’s best to schedule a professional inspection before a serious issue arises.

With frequent roof inspections, you can prolong the health and lifespan of your roof by catching small issues like small leaks, lifted shingles, and deteriorating flashing before they can form into serious problems later down the line. Roof inspections save you more money than they cost, in the long run.

Some warning signs and small issues to keep an eye out for:

• Water stains on the ceilings or walls.
• Missing shingles.
• Cracked, curling or damaged shingles.
• Water spots on the roof decking, visible from within the attic.

Catching a leak early can prevent a whole host of very costly and potentially devastating issues from developing later on down the line. Water is insidious, and it doesn’t take long to wear away at natural materials like wood and soak into insulation, walls and precious items. Mold issues can pop up seemingly out of nowhere, and put an entire family at risk. Walls and supports can be weakened, causing a structural integrity risk as the water rots the wood and draws in pests.

In short, it’s best to give your roof the professional treatment so that it can keep doing it’s job of sheltering you and your family to the best of its ability!

Finding A Local Roofing Contractor

When it comes time for a roof inspection, you should find a company that you can trust and will thoroughly go through the inspection process. The Klaus Roofing Systems network has highly trained, local roofing contractors across the U.S. who can help with your roofing needs.

Find your local Klaus Roofing Systems contractor today to claim your free, no obligation estimate!