Despite being one of the most important parts of your home, it’s easy to forget about roof care.
You rely on your roof to keep the heat in, the rain out, and provide shelter from bad weather. However, when was the last time you had a roof inspection?
A regular inspection of your roof is important for many reasons. An expert roof inspector is the best person to carry out your inspection too – for several reasons.
Five Benefits of a Professional Roof Inspection
If you need a roof inspection, avoid the temptation to save a few bucks by going up to take a look at it yourself. Hiring an expert will save you plenty of time and money in the long-term – here’s why:
Improved Safety
Let’s be honest, climbing up onto your own roof is going to be dangerous. There could be hidden hazards, such as fragile areas, that you aren’t aware of and wouldn’t be able to easily spot.
That’s not to mention the risk of falling off your roof, either.
A qualified roof inspector will bring safety equipment with them to prevent falls and hazards. Should an accident happen, they’re also insured to cover healthcare and repair costs, which you may not be if you did it yourself.
Spot Weathering Erosion Early
An expert will be able to spot early signs of weathering erosion on your rooftop before it becomes obvious to your untrained eye.
Spotting a problem early helps you to minimize the risk of small issues turning into huge costs. Some things would be easy for anybody to see, such as a slipped roof slate, but others are harder to spot.
For example, you may have small areas of water pooling on a flat roof which look harmless. These, however, may be causing the beams beneath to become damp. This results in warping and degrading material, raising the risk of structural damage.
Lengthen Roof Lifespan
Just as you get your car serviced every year to keep it reliable, a regular inspection will help maintain your roof for longer.
Problems can be fixed at an early stage, and prevention tactics can be put in place where possible problems may arise.
For example, if your property is old, you may want to replace the chimney flashing, which is the metal strip that runs around the chimney on the roof. This is a common area for roof leaks and can be hard to spot because of the way water seeps beneath the flash to drip onto roof beams.
An expert would be able to spot possible hazards such as this, and help you to maintain your roof in good condition for a long time.
Home Insurance Remains Valid
Your home insurance policy is likely to have a clause in it that reflects payout on insurance claims only if you can prove you have maintained your property to a reasonable standard.
If you haven’t been inspecting and maintaining your roof and you had a problem such as severe weather damage, your insurance may not pay out. Hiring a roof inspector will be proof to your insurance company that you regularly maintain your property as required.
Reduced Lifetime Costs
A regular professional roof inspection will reduce the lifetime costs of your roof.
An annual inspection allows you to quickly discover problems and invest in the solution before they become large costs. Smaller repairs can be conducted more cheaply than large structural ones, and you’ll be able to keep your existing roof for a much longer time than if it were neglected.
The extension of your roof lifespan also provides you large savings: a roof typically should need replacing after twenty-five years, but with good maintenance, this can be avoided for much longer.
Signs You Need a Roof Inspection
If you’re not sure whether you need an inspection just yet, take a look at these signs to check if you should be calling an expert.
Your Attic Smells Damp
All attics have a musty or dusty smell to them but if yours smells strongly of damp or mold then you are likely to have water damage somewhere.
It could be a small leak that has seeped into a single beam, or a larger hole causing damp on the floorboards as well as the roof struts.
If you can see obvious mold inside your attic or on your roof beams, it’s a sure sign of damp conditions.
You Can See Missing Shingles
If you can clearly see a missing shingle on your roof, it’s definitely time to call an expert.
However, you may have slipped tiles that haven’t yet fallen off. To check if your shingles need replacing, go into your attic on a sunny day. If you can see large chunks of daylight, then you’re going to need a repair or replacement service very soon.
Your Shingles Are Warped
Some roof shingle types, such as cedarwood, have a tendency to weather and curl at the corners.
If you can see your shingle is starting to crack or warp then they need replacing. It could be a sign of a larger problem on an area of your roof you can’t access, which is why it’s important to call a professional in to inspect it.
Your Gutters Overflow
Do your gutters overflow every time it rains heavily, even though you’ve had them cleaned? This is often a sign of poor roof drainage and could lead to damp and water damage problems.
If your gutters have been cleaned but still overflow, an expert will be able to determine the cause. A slipped gutter, for example, will prevent water from running off in a natural direction. This is enough to cause water to pool and overflow from the gutter instead of running down the drainpipe.
You Can See Moss Growing
If you can see moss – or other plant life – growing on your roof, it’s time to consider asking a professional roofing contractor to check your roof for water problems.
Plants like moss love damp conditions, so it’s a sure sign that your roof has some water drainage problems and a potential leak.
Speak to an Expert
Now you know why a roofing expert will save you money, and how to spot the signs that you need a professional roof inspection, it’s time to get in touch.
Speak to an expert today to learn more about our inspection and roof repair services.
