Other stories

Roof Inspections – Why Are They So Vital?

roofimgMost property owners do not spare a thought about the roofs over their heads till such time they encounter a problem, typically in the form of a leak appearing in the ceiling. The wellbeing of the roof is critical to the safety of your property and its occupants; after all, it is the first line of defense you have against inclement weather such as storms or even bright sunshine. Waking up to a leak in the ceiling on one fine day after years of neglect usually means that you could be potentially facing much larger problems such as structural damage, deterioration in insulation, fungus and mold growth, etc. that now would need to be tackled with expensive repairs. A simple way of sparing yourself of these headaches is to schedule periodic inspections of your roof so that problems can be addressed before they assume serious proportions.

The Ideal Time for Scheduling Roof Inspections

Property owners generally feel the need to have a roof inspection done after they have gone through some extreme weather conditions like storms or blizzards to verify whether their roofs have suffered any damage. However, such incidents need not be the only times that you need to worry about your roof’s health.

An ideal time to have a roof inspection scheduled is fall, well before the onset of winter. This is because of a number of reasons; it is generally not possible to carry out effective repairs when the temperatures outside are freezing. Shingles can’t be seated and sealed properly due to the extreme cold, and moreover, it can be extremely hazardous to attempt repairs on roofs that may have turned icy and treacherous. Consequently, any roofing issue that is discovered late in the year will generally have to be kept on hold till spring. Experienced roofers also suggest fall inspections due to the fact that certain repairs like moss and fungus treatment can take quite some time and if the treatment is commenced early, they can continue to work during the winter months and the debris cleaned up in the spring.

Why a Homeowner Inspection May Not Be Adequate

There are certain signs of roof damage that even an inexperienced property owner can recognize such as broken or missing shingles; however, there are a lot many other types of damage that can only be perceived by people with special training and experience, hence the need for the inspection to be done by professionals. However, if your commercial property has been recently built or you’ve replaced your roof recently, you can possibly do the inspection in the first five years by yourself just by looking out for signs of damage from the ground and inspecting your attic for any damp or leaks. If your roof is more than five years old and also been exposed to severe weather conditions, it is best not to run the risk of doing the inspection by yourself but to call in an experienced roofing contractor to carry out a comprehensive inspection. If you believe that your roof has already been damaged, it can be a good idea to give your insurance company a call. Not only will your insurance agent be able to arrange for a qualified inspector to conduct the roof examination but also your insurance company might cover the cost of both the inspection and the repairs.

What Do Professional Roof Inspectors Do

The job of a professional roof inspector is to look out for leaks, wear and tear that may pose a hazard, damage to the roof, issue of organic growth and even problems that may have occurred during the roof installation or repairs thereafter, which are now manifesting themselves. Typically, a professional roof inspection has four principal components: materials, structure, interiors, and workmanship.

The material inspection will reveal shingles that are loose, broken, curling or missing as well as fasteners and flashing that have deteriorated or broken. The seals around the various joints will also be inspected for gaps. The inspection of the structure will check for signs of sagging or uneven planes in the roof as well as the occurrence of cracks, crumbling grout, and issues in ventilation. Scrutiny of the workmanship will try to identify any issue that will lead to leaks developing of causing any other type of roof damage in the times to come. The inspection of the interior is the final check that confirms that there is no ingress of moisture into the attic or the interior walls that will lead to the formation of rot and mold.

Conclusion

The professional roof inspector will give a detailed report on the roof condition and the action that needs to be taken by you. It is best to carry out immediate repairs to the extent necessary well before winter sets in so that you will have the comfort of knowing that your roof is in good shape and your property safe when the snow flies in thick.

by http://commercialroofinghoustontx.com/

If you have any questions, please ask below!