The most cost-effective/efficient way to protect one of your property’s main assets – your roofing system – is by having the roof inspected one to two times per year depending on the type of property you own. Make sure your inspector/roofer is a qualified professional with years of experience, along with the proper certifications from manufacturers that warrant new roofs, such as CertainTeed, GAF, Firestone (Elevate), Carlisle, etc.
A typical inspection will include the following:
- Ensuring that the gutters/downspouts or scuppers/roof drains are working properly and are not clogged.
- Checking to see if the shingles or membrane are showing signs of wear and tear, damage or proper installation/coursing.
- Making sure that the roof is properly vented.
- Checking on the step, counter and kick out flashings.
- Inspecting the roof penetrations: exhaust vents/hoods, HVAC units, vent pipes, skylights, etc.
- Ensuring that there’s no significant debris on the roof.
- Checking for any staining of the shingles.
- Ensuring that there isn’t excessive bowing in the roof sheathing.
- Making sure there’s a proper drip edge and shingle overhang.
- Inspecting all the layers of roofing.
It is important as the owner of the property, to know the approximate age of your roof system as this helps the inspector with any future recommendations of replacement, patching, coating or nothing at all. A residential home only needs an inspection every one to two years, but please make sure the gutters/downspouts are cleaned at least twice a year or more if you’re located in a heavily wooded area.
Commercial properties should be inspected at least twice a year as a commercial property typically has HVAC units, hood vent blowers, gas lines, electrical lines, etc. on them and will have foot traffic from mechanical, plumbing and general maintenance contractors throughout the year. An annual Roof Maintenance Contract can help alleviate large replacement costs and prolong the life of one of your most valued and costly assets, your roof system.
