If you're about to purchase a new home,
think about getting a complete roof inspection. While a home
inspection does look over your property, a roof inspection is more
specific. A roof inspection will go over the exterior of the roof as
well as the attic to identify any major problems.
Here's why you might want to pay for a
complete roof inspection.
While many inspectors will walk the
roof, they aren't required to. In fact, home inspectors aren't
required to do anything but look at the roof from ground level.
That's just not enough to find many roof-related problems.
Home inspectors also don't need to go
into the attic. Because they may not go into the attic, they may not
notice signs that the roof has leaks or damage. While home inspectors
are extremely competent, their jobs are simply to look around the
property for anything obviously wrong, and they may
miss some more minor signs of issues.
A home inspection looks at all aspects
of the property, but a roof inspector will look just at the roof
alone. Roof inspectors are usually certified and will be able to
identify any major issues with a roof that could be a problem.
A roof inspection will cover:
- Looking for mold in the attic and
checking to make sure that the area is well-ventilated. The
inspection may also cover the R-value of the attic, which will make
sure the attic is well-insulated.
- Inspecting the shingles, chimney,
and flashing of the roof for potential leaks. Damage can occur on a
roof that may not be visible from the ground. The inspection may
also find areas with pulled up shingles.
- Creating estimates for the damage.
This is particularly important if you want to purchase the house
because it'll tell you how much you'll need to invest to fix the
roof. Unlike other renovations, roofs usually aren't optional.
Roof inspectors don't tear up the roof
or cause any damage to it. They just visually inspect it. They have
methods that they can use that are nonintrusive and will tell them
what they need to know about the roof.
If a roof has been on a house over 20
years, it may actually predate the current owners. If someone sells a
house after living in it for five years, they may not actually know
that the roof leaked a few years before they bought it.
Homeowners are only required to
disclose what they know about a property. If they don't know things,
it won't be listed on the property disclosures. A thorough inspection
will reveal things that may not be on the disclosures.
oundations and roofs are two of the
most expensive repairs for a home. You need to know if a property has
a roofing problem before you purchase it because a roofing problem
could cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix.
While you may not be able to demand
that a seller replace the roof of a home, you can ask them to make
minor, needed repairs. You can also calculate the roof repairs into
the cost of the house, which will help you when you compare the house
to other properties.
A roof inspection is only a few hundred
dollars and will save you from potentially tens of thousands of
dollars' worth of expense. It's incredibly important to know what
you're getting into before you purchase a new house. If you want a
complete roof inspection, contact Cal
Roofing Systems Inc.
