Your roof shields your home against various elements. It is also no secret that due to its position in your home, it becomes too easy to neglect. This, unfortunately, is until serious damage has occurred. With this in mind, your roof should be regularly inspected. Certain issues require consideration in making roof inspection both timely and cheap.
Why You Need To Inspect Your Roof In The First Place
Owning a home is an expensive venture. It is unfortunate though that you can’t just get in and live happily ever after. A home demands constant maintenance to avoid costly damage. As such, an inspection must take place at least once a year.
In addition, most people rarely venture onto their rooftop to find out what goes on there. A roof takes a continuous beating. It bakes in the sun, and its sealant expands and shrinks several hundred times during summer. In winter, melting snow and rainwater seeps through small cracks introducing moisture to layers between the roofing and your attic.
Results from all these include damage based on mold, sagging rooflines, pests, and general water damage. In turn, this damage leads to expenditure in thousands of dollars for expenses to repair your roof itself, dry the wall, eliminate mold, and fix general structures of your home. Also, note your home insurance coverage will not cover deferred maintenance costs arising from this damage.
Areas to Inspect On Your Roof
With an understanding of the need to inspect your roof, taking a timely decision to perform regular inspection should become easier. First off is understanding that an inspection involves quick and easy procedures. Remember, however, to take your time while remaining careful as you are up there.
There are numerous tripping hazards while climbing and down and using a ladder could be tricky. However, if performed safely, inspecting a roof should identify problems and damages that your homeowner insurance does not cover and that are potentially expensive to repair. Here are areas you should check.
Damaged and Missing Shingles
Hail, the wind and even several years of usage lead to damaged shingles. An inspection of shingles should involve ensuring granules adequately cover the shingle. Also, ensure that shingles on your roof are working correctly as they should. This guarantees that no moisture enters into your home.
In addition, look out for curling and missing shingles. If yours are made from wood, make sure they have not decayed, and they have no cracks. Look for algae or mold growth, and remove them immediately you find them.
Flashing
Flashing on your roofing structure refers to those metal pieces that butt up against your walls, go around skylights, and go down various valleys on your roof. Always ensure such pieces remain whole and undamaged. Damage here means twisted upwards, having holes in them, rusting, or any other form.
Flat Roofs
If your property has flat roofing, your inspection should concentrate on finding visible blisters, tears, patches, and cracks.
Down Sprouts Gutters
Although sprouts and gutters seem unrelated to your roof, they play crucial roles often overlooked. They ensure water drains away from the roof and the foundation of your home.
Where gutters feature, the inspection should involve ensuring that they remain clear of debris that may clog them. They require butting up tight against the main structure and cleaned regularly. Also, make sure they are not leaking.
Ventilation
Ventilation should also be included in the inspection procedure. Ensuring the caps remain clear of any obstruction is good enough.
Chimneys
Make sure during your inspection rounds that the chimney cap remains on tightly. If yours is made from bricks, inspect them carefully for cracks.
Away from the Roof
Ugly ceiling marks, no matter how small, are signs that something is not right on your roof. This means your inspection tours should not be concentrated on the roof only. Areas underneath the roof, such as attics, also require scrutiny.
Areas around your home call for inspection too. Trimming trees whose branches overhung the property is also necessary. This will prevent such branches from falling on your roof and causing severe damage during heavy storms or strong winds.
It is important to hire the services of a professional outfit to undertake scheduled inspection of your property. Such professionals have unique expertise and equipment to detect potential areas of damage you may be unable to detect alone. These professionals also recommend cheap avenues of repairing damage or ways of preventing damage from occurring in the first place.
Finally, taking an insurance policy for your property is a good way of protecting your hard-won investment. As part of an insuring procedure, the insurance firm will send professionals to have the property inspected and assessed.
