Houston experiences 53 inches of annual rainfall making it one of the wettest places in Texas. If you live in Houston, you know that this rainfall can be extremely heavy and cause damage to your home.
To ensure your house is in good shape for every season, it’s important to opt for a roof inspection every so often.
What does this entail and how can you conduct one? Keep reading to find out.
What Is a Roof Inspection?
A roof is an integral part of your home that requires proper maintenance and periodic inspections. A roof inspection is referred to as a thorough examination of roofing components on and in the home.
The goal of an inspection is to determine how your roof is performing and if anything needs to be corrected. You might need a roof inspection when buying or selling a home.
Roof Inspection vs. Roof Certification
Before getting into how to conduct a roof inspection, it’s important to know the difference between inspections and certifications.
A roof inspection is a visual assessment of the condition of your roofing components and materials. Inspections help you discover damages that exist on your rooftop.
A roof inspection does not guarantee or certify that your roof meets industry standards. A roof certification, however, does.
Certified local roof inspectors can verify that the roof installation process was completed correctly and is in good shape.
They cannot vouch for things like whether or not you’ve bought new shingles with a certain warranty. They also cannot say how long the roof and those shingles are expected to last.
Roof certifications come from product testing laboratories. These agencies send inspectors to test a manufacturer’s product to ensure it meets specific criteria. They’ll issue a certificate if the model passed the standard.
When to Conduct a Roof Inspection
You should conduct a roof inspection at least annually even if you aren’t buying or selling a home. There are different events and circumstances that warrant a roof inspection.
First, you’ll want to inspect your roof after a significant storm. Roofs can succumb to damage after heavy participation or strong winds.
You should also conduct a roof inspection if you notice a leak in your home. Search through areas around the home where you find the leak. Foundation issues and mold growth can occur if you avoid this problem.
When you notice areas of visible signs of leakage, call a licensed and insured contractor. You might notice wet spots on walls and ceilings.
Don’t wait for something bad to happen to check your roof. Every year, inspect your roofing system for damages. This way, you can repair significant problems before a big storm comes or before the cold season rolls around.
An annual roof inspection leads to these benefits:
- Financial protection
- Preventing serious damage
- Checking for water leaks
- Avoiding penalties from your insurance company
You can inspect roofs yourself to save money, but there are safety and liability concerns. If you decide to check the roof yourself, make sure you know what you are doing.
How to Conduct a Roof Inspection
It’s always best to hire a professional roofing contractor to complete an inspection. However, there are things you can easily do on your own.
Check the Interior
The first sign of roof damage may come from inside the home. Many signs of water and damage are visible from the interior. Look for:
- Mold
- Water stains
- Drips or leaks
- Mildew
- Peeling paint
If you spot any of these signs, you should thoroughly check the outdoors to find the cause of the issue. Try to find the source of leaking water before the problem becomes worse.
Do a Visual Check of the Roof
You can check for visual signs of roof damage from the ground. A visible sign usually means there is further damage underneath. The first warning signs might be:
- Cracks
- Tears
- Abrasions
- Holes
- Scratches
- Blistering
- Moss
You can typically find these issues on the membrane of the roof. These trouble spots indicate more extensive damage so it’s best to let a professional take over the repair process.
Examine the Drainage System
Roof problems can arise when the drainage system isn’t working. Dirt and debris can accumulate in your gutters or pipes causing water to backup. When you have standing water, you can easily be the victim of leaks in the home.
Check the functionality of your drainage system. This includes checking the seal. If your seal is cracked or broken, water can flow around it instead of going through it.
Inspect the Roof’s Structure
Your roof structure is essential to the function of your roofing system. If you have flashing on your roof, check that it is structurally sound. This can be dangerous so you should hire a professional roof inspector for this step.
Gaps or cracks in your flashing mean that water can flow towards the roof instead of moving away from the structure.
Expansion joints might also be damaged and have more movement to them than they should. Check these for cracks and tears as well.
Look at Additional Equipment
Roofs with pipes and vents on them require an additional step in the inspection. These elements might be damaged by the weather.
Part of your roof inspection is to check for structural damage or blockage of this equipment. Rust, leaves, moss, and chipped paint are common issues.
Should You Hire a Professional Roofer?
A professional roofer knows the ins and outs of roof maintenance which includes inspections. Although there are some things you can inspect yourself, hiring a professional will provide you with the best results.
If you recently bought a home, hiring a reputable roof contractor to perform inspections can help you decide if you made a good purchasing decision.
You can reap these benefits when you hire experts from Redemption Roofing and General Contracting:
They Are Trained to Look For Defects
A trained roofing contractor can inspect the roof surface, materials, and components to detect red flags your roof might have. They have years of experience that allows them to spot damages right away.
Additionally, they have the proper equipment and tools to assess your roof’s condition and repair it. You might not have the tools at home, or you have them but don’t know how to use them.
Thorough Inspection
When you hire a professional roofer, you ensure you are getting a thorough inspection every time. While you might not have time to inspect your roof, a contractor has made a career out of it.
A standard inspection is a thorough one that involves looking at every inch of the roof, including gutters, skylights, chimneys, etc.
They can find minor problems that you missed that need immediate repair. Small issues might not seem like a big deal but they can easily turn into something significant.
No Unnecessary Repairs
When you inspect your roof, you might think you need to fix a problem that actually doesn’t require an immediate fix. A contractor will only complete necessary repairs.
Not only will this save you money, but you don’t have to worry about trying to fix a problem and making it worse in the process. If you think you need a roof repair, it’s best to get the opinion of a professional before wasting your money.
Plus, roofers offer a variety of roofing services that can benefit you during an inspection.
How Much Does a Roof Inspector Charge?
There is no one size fits all answer to how much a roof inspector charges. The fees will vary depending on the experience of the contractor and other factors.
On average, you can expect to spend between $100-$400 for a thorough roof inspection from a professional roofing company.
You should also ask a roofing contractor if they charge additional fees for other parts of the home like the attic, foundation, support beams, etc.
In general, these are the factors that affect the cost of a roof inspection:
- Size of the roof
- Accumulation of damage
- Materials used for construction
- Roof parts that need repairs or replacement
A large roof takes longer to inspect which costs more money. If there is significant damage to your roof, you can expect to pay higher rates for the inspection and repairs.
Charges also depend on the materials on your roof. Some contractors charge more or less for certain materials depending on their labor costs and availability.
To get a complete idea of how much you’ll pay for a roof inspection, ask for a quote. Once the inspection is complete, the contractor will also provide you with a quote on the cost of the necessary repairs.
Reach Out to a Roofing Company!
If you live in the Houston area and need a roofer to inspect your home, Redemption Roofing and General Contracting should be your go-to choice.
Whether you are selling or buying a home, have faced a heavy storm, or want to stay up to date on annual roof maintenance, it’s important to opt for a roof inspection. We offer free inspections and estimates!
Contact us today by filling out our convenient online contact form to get started.
