Why An Annual Roof Inspection Is Important

Our roofs protect us from the outside elements and prevent our homes from incurring water damage. You may think you have a pretty steady roof. “Nothing looks wrong with my roof. I don’t need to spend money on a roof inspection this year.” Think again. Everyone needs an annual roof inspection to ensure the safety of their home. Here are reasons why annual roof inspections are critical.

The Cost of Neglecting your Roof

• Inconsistency in your roof tiles can lead to a small leak or worse. You may not see the damage to your roof, but a minor weakness may turn into a disaster during a heavy storm. Fixing a collapsed roof can be very costly.
• Trusses and beams support your roof. Damage to beams and trusses can cost $5 per square foot to repair.
• Further structural damage can lead to walls cracking and unstable foundations. Foundation repair can soar upward to the $10,000’s if severe.
• Small birds, rodents, insects, and even tree-dwelling snakes or amphibians can infiltrate a small opening in your home. The last thing you want is a bird’s nest in your attic’s insulation (poor birds) or a squirrel frantically racing around your attic.

What Happens During a Roof Inspection 

• The first part of the roof inspection includes climbing on the roof and checking the flashing and shingles. This practice ensures the insulation and beams are not exposed. They also look for any soft spots where leaking might have already been occurring. Your chimney and shingles will also go through inspection. Shingles prevent water damage.
• Next, the inspection includes the attic. Here you will check insulation, ventilation, and water damage. You may not always see a loose shingle. This reason is why you need to check from underneath the roof. Your roof inspector will be able to trace damage from your attic back to the tile. There are multiple causes such as branches, water rot, scratched flashing, or incorrectly placed shingles.
• The inspector may want to check your chimney for debris. Keep in mind that a chimney cover will block out any debris. If you don’t have a chimney cover, expect debris in your fireplace. If you have a chimney cover and still see debris, there is probably a weak spot in your chimney.

Holding off on a roof inspection longer than a year increases the chance of damage. This increases the cost of repairing your roof. If you suspect any damage to your roof, give us a call. We’ll be happy to come out and inspect it.