Picture yourself on Family Feud and Steve Harvey asks you, “Name one of the most important parts of your house.” You could safely answer “The roof” and you would likely be rewarded with the top answer. The roof integrity is one of the most important components of your home, and it is also one of the costliest components to repair or replace. Like every component of your home, the roof has a finite lifespan. That lifespan can vary drastically depending on the type of materials used, the harsh climates it endures, proper flashings, and whether it has received the proper upkeep. However, the number one deficiency that leads to roof failures is poor installation.
The obvious complication from a roof that is in poor condition is that it leaks, but nearly equally important is that the roof is well ventilated to dry out moisture. Moisture can quickly destroy the integrity of your roof and produce the ideal conditions for rot, mold, and pests.
Major leaks are often discovered quickly, but small leaks can sometimes take months or longer to manifest into visual defects. While some inspectors might eye the roof from the ground, they will have little to no chance of discovering that “soft spot” on the roof due to a failing flashing on the chimney six feet up the roofline. One of the first things that you should ask your home inspector is if it’s their standard practice to walk the roof or not.
That said, inspectors must account for their on-the-job safety. Getting up on steep or wet roofs is an accident waiting to happen. When the roof is wet, most inspectors will write it off as a safety hazard and recommend an evaluation by a qualified roofing contractor and disclaim that the roof was not inspected and is not covered under the scope of their inspection. We understand the inconvenience of these limitations, and that’s why we use a state-of-the-art 4K waterproof drone to examine the roof during inclement or hazardous conditions. Additionally, the use of thermal imaging is standard in all of our inspections. We do our best to find these small problems before they become major headaches.
Let’s talk maintenance!
We are firm believers that home inspection should not be all doom and gloom. A major focus of our business philosophy is that we are here to help educate homeowners. We understand that not every homeowner is going to drag a ladder out and climb up on their roof, but there are several things that you can look for regularly from the ground.
Moss
The PNW is one of the greatest places to live. We have natural luxuries that few places in the world can match. That said, we also get an abundance of one thing, rain. The PNW is known as one, if not the most, wettest places in the country. While the rain provides us with our “Evergreen State” moniker, crystal clear rivers, and deep mountain snow, it also creates problems for our homes and moss is an easy one for a homeowner to spot. Moss can damage the roof covering and trap moisture. Luckily, there is a cheap and fairly easy way to treat moss and you probably already have it in your kitchen, baking soda.
Products such as Tide might also kill moss but can contain harsh additives that could damage your roof. Pressure washing a roof is also problematic as it can damage roof coverings and introduces even more moisture to a roof and should be avoided.
Inspect regularly and after storms with high winds
Even seemingly impervious steel roofs can get damaged by a powerful wind. The sheer force could dislodge panels, shingles, or tiles, as well as damage roofing material from flying debris. It is important to get into a good habit of performing a thorough visual inspection of your roof at least once a month and after storms.
If you see problems, FIX IT!
We cannot stress this enough, when you find a problem with your roof, it needs to be corrected as soon as possible, by a licensed professional. As stated above, it’s easy for small problems to turn into big problems, and doing it yourself comes with risks such as incorrect installation. Furthermore, if you read the fine print on the warranty of most roofing materials you can find at the big home box stores, an installation by a non-licensed professional likely will void that “25-year warranty.”
Whether you’re looking to buy or sell and need a home inspection, or you are in need of an annual inspection, Main Inspections is here to provide a thorough inspection of all of your home’s systems and components. For a free, no-obligation quote, give us a call today at (253) 279-3525.
