Roof Inspection 101
Buying a new home is daunting and exciting. You know you need an inspection to ensure the foundation is solid, wiring is up to date, plumbing to code, and more. More potential home buyers nowadays are making sure the roof is in acceptable condition and for that you likely need a licensed roofer to check it out.
Buyers often don’t know that standard home inspections may not include roof certification. If you’re concerned the roof on your next biggest adventure might not be in the best shape, have Star Improvements of MI come out and do a roof inspection. If you have any doubt the roof was inspected properly, or sadly in some cases if a less-than-honest inspector may have ignored the roof or “fudged” the report, get a second opinion and roof certification. We can help.
Recently we had a customer call for an estimate. They had bought a home for their growing family 3 years prior and were told the roof was only a few years old and solid by both the seller and home inspector. Shortly after they moved in, problems began to arise with other things inside and outside the home. Then, the roof leaks were discovered. They called us and we went to get them an estimate. What we found would make your heart sink. The ENTIRE roof needed to be redone right down to rafter replacement. That kind of damage doesn’t just happen overnight. You can watch a video of Shawn walk the roof and explain a bit about this on our facebook page.
Another recent inspection fail: Improper ventilation, confirmed leaks around vents, improper treatment of valleys. Check out our facebook video on this roof.
We’ve seen a few in recent years. Home buyers would have had the chance to pass on a home that was requiring more work than they desired, or could have negotiated the price down to compensate for the new roof the home needed. While we love to install a new roof, it’s always a little bittersweet when someone thought they wouldn’t need it so early because of a less than thorough home inspection.
First things first
Get inspector recommendations from friends and family, coworkers, and trusted realtors. Call around and ask a LOT of questions. Some home inspectors won’t even get on the roof during their inspection. Remember, you’d prefer to only have to do this once and you’re making a huge investment not only in money, but safety for you and your family, and risking future repairs/damages. Ask questions. Ask the seller about age and history of the roof. Ask for the contractor information if it was recently replaced, it might even still be under warranty.
Look at the more than just the roof
You’ll want to get a good look at the roof of course. Stand back at take a look at it from all angles. Do you see areas of concern such as sagging? Missing or curling shingles? Missing or damaged fascia and soffit? Is the Chimney in good shape with a proper cap? Are the valleys full of debris?
But after that, look at the gutters and check out the drainage. There could be rotten wood under that fascia leading to the gutters sagging. Or damage from ice dam build up leading to other roof concerns. Inside the home look at ceilings for signs of water stains and damage or repair. If the home has skylights, look for cracks or repairs around them. Ask if there’s been any issues with the furnace that were due to water or ventilation problems and look to see if there’s been those odd stop-gap fixes, like a cookie sheet wedged in or under to catch water.
Think it might need a closer look by a professional?
If you notice anything that causes you to worry about the state of the roof, don’t hesitate to call in a Star Improvements expert to perform a thorough inspection and if needed, a roof certification letter. Your realtor or mortgage agent can tell you know if you need a certification letter. We’ll look for signs of storm damage, missing granules, cracked/broken or missing shingles, any wood rot to the soffit & fascia. We’ll check the vents for proper ventilation, sealing, or damage. We can inspect the gutters and downspouts for proper drainage. We want YOU satisfied you’re making a wise decision and feeling safe and secure in your new home.
Then in the future when you’re ready to update or your roof has reached it’s lifespan, we hope you call us back. 🙂
In the market for a new home? Give us a call to inspect the roof. Call 989-823-7283 or click here for our contact us page and send a message. We’ll be happy to set up an inspection appointment.
Roof Inspection 101 information
Roof Inspection 101 information
