Your roof will keep you safe and dry for decades, as long as it is well-maintained. In order to keep your roof in its best possible condition, experts recommend that you schedule an annual roof inspection.
A yearly inspection will allow you to identify any small issues before they become large problems, and keep your home protected for years to come.
Professional roofing contractors not only install new roofs, but will be able to perform inspections and necessary roofing repairs as well.
What Does a Roof Inspection Entail?
- Walk-Around: Your roofing contractor will most likely begin by doing a walkaround of the property from the ground. He will be able to see worn areas, dry rot, drainage patterns, or any damage to soffits, roof eaves or more. To the trained eye of a professional, damage can often be spotted from this angle.
- Visual Inspection: The roofing professional will next look at the home from the vantage point of a ladder positioned around the roof. Different roofing materials will allow for closer inspection. For instance, your inspector may walk along an asphalt shingle roof, but will only walk on a tile roof if necessary. (as tiles can more easily crack or break.)
- What is the Inspector Looking For? There are several things the roofing inspector will be looking for when on your roof. Cracked or broken tiles may allow water intrusion and should be replaced. When looking at asphalt tiles, the inspector will want to identify shingles which are losing granules, shingles which are curling up at the edges, shingles which are becoming unglued, or areas with missing shingles.
- Additional Areas of Concern: A roof inspection should include checking the gutters for structural integrity and making sure that water flows freely. Any debris should be cleared off the roof, and any overhanging branches removed.
- Interior Inspections: The roofing company may also choose to inspect the roof from the inside. If your attic is accessible, an inspector will look for any staining, dark areas, mold, or wet wood. If there is any indication of a leak, they may also look at the interior of the home to determine the extent of any intrusion.
- Possible Repairs: If your roofing inspector finds problems, you may need to replace tiles or shingles. If debris has damaged the underlayment, you may need to replace it and a section of roofing. Your inspector will likely recommend debris removal and gutter cleanup as well.
These inspections are important as damaged roofing materials are often not visible. However, if a vulnerability exists and is not repaired early, it can get worse and cause more extensive damage. Your roof should last between 25 years (asphalt roofs) ad 35 years (tiles roofs). Inspections can ensure that you get the maximum lifespan out of your roof.
Here in the Venice area, heavy rains from April through October are common.
Be sure to look for signs of roof leaks after every major storm, and call Kingdom Roofing if you see anything which concerns you.
Once the rainy season is over, schedule your annual inspection so that the work can be done during the dry season and you can be well prepared for next year.
Whether you need a new roof, require roof repairs, or are looking for roofing advice for your residential or commercial roofing project, give our expert Kingdom Roofing team a call.
