Roofs are an essential component of residential building structures. Any roof requires a significant amount of time, attention, and regular maintenance. Without a durable, solid, functioning roof, your house can easily become one of the most uncomfortable places to live in! You must strive to protect your investment and prioritize the “health” of the roof.

Getting up on the roof and doing an inspection on your own is never a good idea. The best way to take care of your roof is having it examined by professional roofing contractors. The roofing inspection performed by skilled professionals will provide you with an opportunity to learn about current risks, flag any upcoming problems, and take proper preventive measures before the roof further deteriorates or collapses.

While some people know what to expect from a free roof inspection, others do not. An experienced and trusted roofing professional can guide you through each phase of inspection.

Do I Need a Roof Inspection?

A roof inspection is necessary to protect your house. But how will you know whether you need a roofing inspection or not? A roofing inspection is needed when:

  • You notice water leaks and dark stains on the ceiling and/or walls inside the house
  • When roof maintenance hasn’t been done for a long time
  • You see damage caused due to harsh weather conditions and/or a storm

What Roofing Professionals Look For:

During the structural inspection, professional roofing contractors check for uneven roof surfaces and signs of sagging, while also examining soffits, fascia, and the gutter system. If you have a masonry chimney, then they’ll look for hidden cracks and/or structural damages. The roofing inspector may also check the condition of the vent in the attic since improper roof venting can lead to heat and moisture buildup which reduces roof life and increases the risk of water clogging.

Improper Flashing: Generally, flashing is beneficial as it prevents water on the roof from leaking into vents and chimneys. Your roofing inspector will check whether or not the flashing is properly installed.
 
Roof Material Inspection: The roofing contractors will look for loose, missing, or curled-up shingles and check for stains, moss, and/or rust. If the shingle aggregate has settled in the roof valley or gutters, then it indicates that the service life of the roof has almost come to an end.

Interior inspection of the roof is essential because leaks cause damage to the interior of the house. While performing an interior roofing inspection, a roofing contractor must check for leaks as well as examine the insulation and ventilation.

Proper Insulation: Professionals need to check whether the attic is insulated effectively by assessing the R-value as well as the condition of the insulation. Having poor insulation will lead to heat generation in the attic and melt the snow during winters. Melted snow can potentially lead to leakage.

Proper Ventilation: Roofing contractors will inspect whether the ventilation is proper or not. Improper ventilation can build up moisture and promote the growth of mold and mildew and compromise the structural integrity of the roof.

Inspecting Leaks: It is very important to identify leaks at an early stage as they can grow worse over time. Leaks tell an inspector that there could be serious roof damage.

Presence Of Mold & Mildew: The increasing growth of mold and mildew suggests that there is inadequate ventilation.

Checking The Condition Of Shingles: Contractors will look for missing, damaged, or loose shingles and decide whether they need to be repaired or replaced. Damaged shingles are potential threats to the structure of the entire house.

Inspection Of Gutters: Gutters must be functionally effective and in good shape. Professionals examine the entire gutter system to check for cracks or any sort of damage due to granules and debris.

Roofing Estimates: Once the free inspection work is completed, roofing contractors should provide you with an estimation based on the current problems, the level of damage, the cost of replacement, and/or labor. In addition, they should give you a detailed overview of the damage and what it would take to fix it.

Summary:

With the regular inspection of the roof, you can ensure that your roof remains in good condition and help extend its service lifespan. Once you have been informed by your professional roofing contractors, you must start addressing issues and get them fixed as soon as possible to avoid an early roof replacement.