Tag: roof inspection

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Residential Roofing Tips

What to Look for in a Roof When Buying a Home

As the weather warms and the school year comes to a close, many North Carolinians are in the market to purchase a new home. You inspect the appliances, electrical system, plumbing, yard space, and HVAC system vigorously before committing to a home, but let’s not forget about one of the most important structural aspects of the home: your roof! Buying a home with a dated and/ or damaged roof can cost you. Here’s what you should look for in a roof when you’re on the house hunt.

Roof Age

The first and most basic piece of information you’ll want to find out is the age of the roof. Ask the seller if they have records of when the roof was installed. If the roof isn’t very old, it might even be under warranty from the installer or manufacturer or both. Most manufacturer warranties are transferable once within the first 10 years and some enhanced warranties allow for transfer the first 20 years.

If the seller is unaware of the age of the roof, we recommend you have the roof inspected by a licensed roofing contractor. You may pay a small inspection fee but it’s worth it.

 

How to Tell a Roof is Aging

One tell-tell sign of roof age is if you see black staining on the asphalt shingles. This staining occurs from blue-green algae growth on your roof. Most shingles today have an algae-resistant coating on the granules but that coating only lasts around 10 years. If you see significant staining on the shingles, it’s a safe bet the roof is at least 10 years old.

 

Some other signs of an aging roof:

  • Shingles are curling at the edges
  • Visible fiberglass (lighter, shiny shingle edges)
  • Significant granule loss on the ground where the downspout discharges
  • Missing shingles
  • Lifted flashings
  • Mismatched shingles, which may be an indicator of previous repairs

 

Some Other Areas to Inspect

Attic: If you have good attic access there’s no better place to spot signs of roof issues. Look for discolored sheathing or framing.

Ventilation: Proper ventilation is key to roof longevity. A good ventilation system will have intake vents at the soffit (underneath the overhangs) and an exhaust vent at or near the ridge. Exhaust vents can be ridge vent, power fans, turbine ventilators, or box vents.

Gutters: These are usually pretty easy to see from the ground. Are the gutters bent or dented or sagging? Look for signs of leakage at the miters (corners) or other seams.

Now that you’re ready to start the search, if you have any roofing-related questions, just give us a shout!

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Commercial Roofing Tips Residential Roofing Tips

Roof Inspections 101

Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom from Pexels

We get it. Roof maintenance and upkeep might not be at the top of your to-do list. But did you know that a routine roof inspection could mean the difference between needing a few repairs and needing a costly roof replacement? Roof inspections are essential to ensuring your roof and its systems are performing safely and effectively and that there aren’t any issues that could damage your home. Issues like roof leaks tend to have a domino effect, and ignoring minor problems with your roof could lead to much bigger ones. But what all goes on during a roof inspection? Let’s go over the basics.

How Often Do I Need a Roof Inspection?

First, let’s discuss the most important question you might have. How often do I need an inspection? The answer isn’t as concrete as you might think, and it can depend on the age and condition of your roof, as well as weather conditions in your area. When a brand new roof is installed, it won’t need an inspection for years. After three or four years, we recommend an inspection once every two years. And as your roof ages, a yearly inspection is your best bet. Of course, if a yearly inspection earlier in the life of your roof will give you peace of mind, go for it. However, there might not be any issues for the first several years.

Another factor to consider is the weather in your area. In the Triangle, we see some heavy wind and rain during hurricane season though they typically don’t result in significant damages. Our friends near the coast might have a completely different experience. If your roof regularly endures harsh weather conditions, an annual inspection is a good idea.

What Happens During a Roof Inspection?

When your home or building is ready for a roof inspection, contact your roofing team to schedule a time. We’ll send a team member out to your address to check for things like:

  • Overall condition of shingles
  • Overall condition of flashing
  • Overall condition of walls
  • Overall condition of pipes
  • Exposed nails
  • Holes
  • Rust
  • Stains
  • Organic growth issues/ moss
  • Other damage

Sure, you would probably notice missing shingles from your roof, but it takes a trained eye to identify the less obvious issues. Once we’ve checked for visible damages, we’ll move on to inspecting for structural issues. This includes examining uneven roof planes, signs of sagging, and the condition of the soffit, fascia, and gutter system. At this time, we’ll also inspect your chimney for structural damage, cracks, crumbling mortar or grout, and damage to the chimney caps.

Want to know the best way to avoid these damages? With a regular roof inspection and maintenance. Determining how often you need one can be tricky, and our team is here to give our best advice. Contact the Bond team to schedule your roof inspection today, or chat with a team member about any of your roofing needs.