A roof inspection is an important step in keeping your home safe and preventing premature roof failure and costly repairs/replacement. Similar to your car, your roof needs to be inspected and maintained regularly in order for it to be functioning optimally. A good roofer will check every square inch of your roof to make sure it’s structurally sound and let you know how your roof is faring. Here are some things you might see during a roof inspection:
Water Stains or paint bubbling on ceiling/walls – The most common signs of roof leaks in your home/building are water stains or paint bubbling on your ceiling and walls. If you ever see any water inside your home and it’s coming from your ceiling or walls call a roofing contractor for further inspection. These stains and bubbles could mean that there is a roof leak coming from somewhere on your roof, your A/C unit or maybe even your parapet walls. There’s a possibility the source of the water intrusion could be from your A/C unit, plumbing, stucco or windows but it’s better to be safe and know for sure than to be sorry.
Missing Shingles – Missing shingles or loose shingles are common problems that can lead to serious issues down the road. If you notice missing shingles, call a professional immediately. You don’t want to wait too long because the sun and heat deteriorates the underlayment beneath that missing shingle and can cause roof leaks.
Water stains under the eaves – You may notice some staining on the underside of the plywood, fascia or wood trim under your roof eaves. This is common in older roofs, we call them “writing on the wall.” “Writing on the wall” implies that the roof is older and on its way out of this world and the roof is slowly failing and allowing water to stain the wood beneath the roof system.
Broken/missing roof tiles – Roof tiles break and fall off during storms, it’s very common in the valley due to our severe monsoon storms. If you see or notice a roof tile that’s broken or missing call a professional as soon as you can to prevent further damage to the roof system. The underlayment beneath those tiles can only withstand the sun and heat exposure for 3-9 months depending on the product that was installed.
Rotted Wood – Rotted wood found under the soffits is very common in older roofs that have failed. Plywood, fascia, wood trim, frieze boards are all components of a roof system that you can see from the ground looking up. The more often you look around your property and look for potential roof damages or signs of failure the quicker and cheaper the fix will be (more often than not). .
Cracked Ceiling – Cracks in the ceiling and walls aren’t always water related, they may be structural or settling cracks as well as bad drywall tape/seams. This is very common in older homes where the house is continually settling and past drywall/remodeling projects show up.
Why Do You Need a Roof Inspection?
A roof inspection helps you know if there is something wrong with your roof. If it needs repair, you can make sure that the work is done properly and in a timely manner. There are many reasons why you might want to do a roof inspection. Most homeowners never get up on their roof so they are unaware of the condition of the roof or even what type of roof is installed on their home. The longer a roof goes uninspected the larger the chance your home is susceptible to water intrusion. Some homeowners don’t realize how much damage a leaky roof could cause. Others think that because their roof looks fine, there is nothing wrong with it. But a roof inspection can reveal problems that you wouldn’t see otherwise. Roof inspections will also indicate how old the roof is and how long it is anticipated to last.
How Often Should You Schedule a Roof Inspection?
When should you schedule your roof inspection? We recommend annual roof inspections for every roof, and even more frequent if your home/property has trees or birds surrounding it. Tree branches, palm frans, pigeons, roof rats, leaves all cause damage to roofs and the damage usually goes unnoticed until it’s too late. If your roof looks to be in good shape, then you can typically get away with having an annual inspection. However, if your roof is showing signs of wear and tear, then you will want to consider scheduling more frequent inspections.
A roof inspection isn’t just about finding leaks. In fact, it’s much more than that. It’s about looking out for other problems like shingle wear and tear, missing flashings, damaged gutter systems, loose tile work, corners that were cut during the initial roof installation or during its latest roof replacement. If you don’t schedule regular inspections, you could end up with bigger and more expensive issues down the road.
How Much Do Roof Inspections Cost?
Most roof inspections cost between $75-$500, depending on the size of the roof, what kind of roof it is, and where the property is located at. Outlier cities like Maricopa, Anthem, Florence, Coolidge, Casa Grande cost more due to gasoline and drive time.
My Roof is Brand New, Does it Really Need to Be Inspected?
Absolutely! There are roofing issues that get missed on home inspections all the time. Builder-grade roofs often have storm collar missing, stretched roof tiles, broken mortar packs, broken tiles, tiles that have slipped out of place, etc. Even if the roof “passed inspection” you will still want your roof to be inspected thoroughly to make sure you are safe and taken care of.
What’s Included in a Roof Inspection?
A roof inspection includes a thorough inspection of the roof and the soffits. The inspection will come with multiple photos as well as a face-to–face or over-the-phone analysis of the roof’s condition with the homeowner, property manager or building owner. During the inspection we will review the roofing material, including the type of roofing and any warranties or guarantees associated with it, as well as an assessment of the overall condition and structure of the roof. This inspection can help identify any potential problems with the roof, such as leaks, exposed underlayment, missing shingles/tiles, broken tiles, broken mortar packs, tiles slipped out of place, debris collected in the valleys, dead valley or behind the chimney. This includes checking the integrity of the roof deck, flashings, chimneys, skylights, dormers, vents, and the tiles/shingles/membrane. An inspector will look for signs of water intrusion, leaks, and cracks. If there are problems, they will be marked with red markings in the photos, which will be sent to your email with the proposed repairs (if necessary). In addition to identifying potential problems, a thorough roof inspection can also help ensure that your home is receiving proper protection from the elements and in some circumstances, annual roof inspections will keep your roof warranty active.
How Do I Schedule a Roof Inspection?
The best way to schedule a roof inspection is to call or text Icon Roofing to have your roof completely inspected. Generally, a roof inspection takes half an hour and should be performed every year and more often if there are any signs of wear or damage.
The more you know about your roof the more money you will save and the better off your home will be!
