Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Have Your Roof Inspected
Roofs are one of the important elements to a home or commercial structure. Without one, your home won’t be properly protected from the weather and elements! That is why it’s crucial to care for your roof by conducting repairs and maintenance as needed, as well as regular roof inspections.
But wait, aren’t roof inspections pricey and unnecessary expenses? You’ll be surprised with how helpful these inspections are and what the positive things they can do for your roof, house, and the overall household. Read on for the top 5 reasons why you should have your roof inspected.
Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Have Your Roof Inspected
Roof inspections can detect common roofing issues or prevent it from happening. Whether it’s missing or damaged shingles, cracks, leaks, saggy or drooping roof, a thorough inspection from an expert contractor can help.
Here are common reasons why you should conduct a roof inspection:
You need roof inspection due to damage
The typical lifespan of a roof is between 15-30 years, depending on the material used and quality of installment. Regardless, all roofs will undergo aging and weathering, and their effects are visible.
When a roof ages and weathers normally, there will be openings, which result in water infiltration. Regular roof inspections are required to check the weathered areas and have them fixed before they cause damage.
Besides aging and weathering, roof inspections are required for routine maintenance. If roofs aren’t properly protected, damage may happen, may it be from tradesmen performing repairs or maintenance on roofs for air conditioning, solar panels, and the like. Most times, they don’t clean up after themselves, and items or debris on roofs may fly during high winds.
Regular roof inspections will help with routine maintenance and make sure all debris or damage left over time are fixed.
There is also storm damage to consider! Hail, high winds, storms, and other intense weather conditions can damage roofs extensively, to the point repairs or insurance claims are required. Roof inspections must be done immediately after such weather events to identify and prevent damage.
Note that damage from inclement weather can end up being major ones, requiring roof replacement. This is because of the extent the weather has done on roofs and its materials or construction, along with flying objects like strong branches and tree limbs.
Vegetation damage may occur as well, meaning things can grow on roofs if low areas or gutters aren’t properly cleaned. Animals, particularly birds, can also land and nest on roofs, depositing seeds and the like. The gutters are susceptible areas as this is where seeds, moisture, and dirt accumulate.
Roof inspections will look out for any damage or vegetation that can lead to roofing issues, fixing it before anything worsens.
Leak assessment
After heavy rain, leaks will most likely occur, and it’s a major trigger for many roof inspections. However, leaks are only a symptom of a bigger problem that’s been building up for quite some time.
In certain cases, leaks can actually be great news, because without evidences of roof leaks, you won’t be able to know if there’s a huge issue that continues to deteriorate your roof. Only experienced professionals can conduct thorough roof leak investigation and an official diagnosis, as these things are invisible to the naked eye.
Leaks can either be minor issues or serious problems that will take major repairs! That’s why if you find a leak, even a small one, it’s best to schedule a roof inspection to find out what’s happening.
Roof cleaning
Part of roof inspections include cleaning. You hit two birds with one stone. Not only does your roof require regular roof inspections, it also requires cleaning.
Clean roofs are less likely to suffer from wind damage, as the debris and loose trash can damage your roof and wash over to your gutters, which causes leaks or cracks on your roof shingles.
Other times, you will also need a roof inspection for better drainage. When water stands on your roof, the more likely there will be moisture infiltration and leaks.
With proper drainage from roof inspections and cleaning, it removes any obstructions and will allow water to drain properly, which reduces chances of leaks. Furthermore, because water is heavy, it can have roofing materials deteriorate, which is why an inspection is required when water doesn’t drain well from the roof.
Improve your home’s security
Thieves may break into residential homes and commercial buildings because of unlocked roof hatches and skylights, or due to damage that they can easily break to enter a home. Through regular roof inspections, contractors can identify any security breaches to reduce chances of burglary or vandalism.
Warranty repairs and improvements
Owners pay for repairs covered under contractors or roof warranties. Leaks may come from various factors, and many of those are covered under warranty. However, when one detects leaks, he must have someone qualified perform a roof inspection, who will see if it’s worth filing a warranty claim.
Another related reason for roof inspections is to see what improvements your home needs, which will ultimately affect the roof. For instance, you may need to install permanent ladders or safety rails for better roof access.
How Often Do I Need Roof Inspections?
Now that you know roof inspections are required, how often will you need to conduct them even without any damage and whatnot?
It’s best to have your roof inspected every six months, with or without damage detected. There might be roofing issues invisible to the naked eye, which can worsen over time. You can end up saving a lot of money through regular roof inspections rather than repairing a roof from undetected problems that accumulated over time.
Wrapping It Up
Hopefully, you learned a lot about why you should have your roof inspected. If your roof is in need of an inspection soon, we recommend contacting us here at Stradling Roofing today.