Proudly setting the bar for local roofing inspection companies
Here at The Inspectors’ Company, we never compromise on safety, and as a San Diego property owner, neither should you. Lack of proper maintenance can take a heavy toll on your home, including your roof. As San Diego region’s leader in home inspections, we have seen what neglect can do and witnessed the severe damage that property owners can bring upon themselves once they throw caution to the wind.
As issues escalate, repair costs rise. To make matters worse, it could happen at the worst possible time. Having to schedule a roof replacement before putting your home on the market is a costly, time-consuming process that you want to avoid. And that’s where we come in.
The Inspectors’ Company team functions like clockwork because we jointly have decades of experience in the business. Nothing can escape the trained eye of our technicians. And we’re all about efficacy: your roofing inspection process will be quick and smooth.
Why do I need a roof inspection?
In a nutshell, roof inspections are designed to determine the integrity of your roof and give you and the prospective buyers insight into the state of your roof and peace of mind. Once you have sufficient details about the roof and receive guidance from competent experts with ample experience in the field, you can plan your course of action and choose whether to:
- perform repairs to add curb appeal or
- leave the repairs to the buyer and modify the asking price.
If you are the seller, you want to have a roof inspection from a licensed roof inspector because a sound roof equals higher chances of closing the sale. If you are the buyer, you want to see the roof inspection report because you want to make sure you are making a wise financial decision and sparing yourself additional repair costs and hassle down the line.
Regardless of your role in the process, one thing is certain: your future self will thank you for thinking ahead and hiring an independent roof inspector to complete the inspection and give you a detailed rundown of the condition of your roof.
When should you get a roof inspection?
Regular roof inspections are suggested twice a year – usually in the springtime and before winter and heavy seasonal changes. Roof repairs can be full of hassles and very costly so roof maintenance and monitoring is highly recommended.
Does a new roof need to be inspected?
A brand new roof should be in perfect condition so there’s no need for inspection, right? Sadly, no. In case of poor quality of workmanship and material and detrimental environmental factors, there could still be serious issues with a new roof. Buyers and sellers alike should insist on a roof inspection after installation even when the roof is brand new.
What is a roof inspection?
A roof inspection belongs to the category of specialized home inspections. Much like a septic tank inspection during which the septic tank will be carefully scrutinized or a RecallCheck which will strictly identify potential appliance recalls, the sole focus of a roof inspection will be the roof. A standard home inspection is typically conducted prior to the roof inspection.
It is during the standard home inspection that we will determine whether you should also schedule a roof inspection. It represents a thorough inspection of the roof on a residential or commercial property for the purpose of detecting current or potential issues and planning a course of action accordingly.
What does a roof inspector do?
Roof inspection is included in a standard home inspection. However, it is a far cry from a specialized roof inspection. Here at The Inspectors’ Company, we offer both! We will inform you whether your roof should be inspected in detail and whether there is cause for suspicion or alarm.
If you have a shingle roof, we will keep an eye out for things like:
- Water damage,
- Mold,
- Clogged gutters,
- Shingle deterioration.
If you have a metal roof, we will look for:
- Leaks,
- Loose seams,
- Damaged flashing,
- Rust.
Do home inspectors go on the roof?
In other words, why have a roof inspection if the home inspector will have already inspected the roof?
Although home inspection companies promise to include a roof inspection in a standard home inspection, this is not always the case. For one thing, they are not under obligation to actually climb your roof and inspect it. They are obligated to check the roof, but the method is not set in stone. For another, it might be unsafe or difficult to climb a roof due to lack of proper access.
But here at The Inspectors’ Company, we know that a roof situation could lead to major complications and difficulties down the line, which is why we always include a roof inspection in our home inspection. Depending on the results of this initial inspection, we may also recommend a specialized roof inspection.
Do I need a roof inspection report for insurance?
As is the case with home inspections in general, whether or not you need a roof inspection report for insurance depends on your insurance company. They may or may not require you to submit a roof inspection report when you purchase insurance.
What is a roof certification inspection?
A roof certification or a roof warranty certificate is a written certificate issued by a licensed roofing contractor for the purpose of providing information about:
- Roof condition and deficiencies, if any,
- Estimated life expectancy,
- Deficiencies and corrective measures or repairs to be made.
Homeowners usually schedule roof certification inspections as this can provide reassurance to prospective buyers and go a long way toward selling their homes. The certification will be good for two years minimum.
What is involved in a roof inspection?
A specialized roof inspection that The Inspectors’ Company provides will consist of the following:
- Checking of home interior for apparent damage or leaks,
- Survey of roof perimeters,
- Survey of surface of roof,
- Inspection of: ridges, caps, drip edges, drains, downspouts and gutters,
- Inspection of flashing areas around pipes, chimneys, vents, and other leak prone areas.
If issues are present, we will provide remediation advice and estimates of repair costs and urgency of repairs.
It’s also extremely important to know the type of materials that make up your roof as they can determine the longevity of your roof system.
Possible composition features may include:
- Shingles,
- Slate,
- Metal,
- Wood shakes,
- Clay or concrete tiles,
- Steel,
- EPDM.
At the end, we will provide a visual roof inspection report.
What does a roofing inspector look for?
A roof inspector will normally look for any suspicious signs such as:
- Roof leaks,
- Wear and tear,
- Damage from debris,
- Vegetation growth issues,
- Faulty shingle installation.
Does a residential roof inspection checklist from the commercial one?
Although some details may differ, both the residential and the commercial roof inspection checklist will determine roof type and roof pitch (flat or sloped) and what to check:
- Whether there are visible signs of damage and debris
- The state of exterior structural components and
- The state of interior roofing components.
How long does a roof inspection take?
Although the duration of a roof inspection will depend on various factors, including accessibility, roof size, etc., on average it will take 2 to 3 hours for professionals to complete the inspection of your roof. If an inspection company promises a thorough inspection but claims that the whole procedure will be completed in under an hour, reconsider your options, as they might be trying to take advantage of you.
What information does a roof inspection report contain?
A roof inspection form will contain the following information:
- Type of deficiency
- Extent of damage
- Required corrective measures
How do you measure roof damage?
We will give you a verbal overview immediately after the inspection and issue a written one with detailed information soon afterwards. We will go over the results of the inspection with you to help you determine the extent of the damage to your roof, if any. You can then plan your course of action accordingly and decide whether it would pay off to perform repairs or not.
What should I expect from a roof inspection?
When you hire The Inspectors’ Company, you can expect the following:
- A comprehensive, detailed overview of roof issues,
- Recommendation of a course of action to fix the issues,
- Recommendation of alternatives to roof repair, such as roof replacement, tear-off, etc.
How do you inspect a roof for damage?
For safety reasons, we do not encourage our clients to climb the roof on their property. However, if you want to get a better idea of what’s going on up there, you can check the roof using binoculars. There are clear telltale signs that you should give us a call and have us examine your roof closely, for instance:
- Missing or loose shingles,
- Missing or damaged flashing,
- Dry or curling shingles,
- Cracking shingles,
- Blistering shingles,
- Nail heads becoming loose or popping out of place,
- Sagging roof,
- Darker patches,
- Granules falling off from shingles.
Advanced roof age is another reason to get suspicious: if your roof is over two decades old, this might be cause for alarm. You can also check the interior of your home to see if there has been water damage due to roof issues. Last but not least, check your utility bills. If catering to your heating and cooling needs has become more expensive than it used to be, your roof may be failing and you need to act fast and call us right away.
How do I prepare for a roof inspection?
As a home seller, you should put reasonable effort into preparing your home for a home inspection. The same goes for a roof inspection. After all, performing a thorough preparation for an inspection will give you the competitive edge as you will have the time to resolve issues before putting your house on the market.
Provided that it is safe enough to do so, you should take certain steps prior to the inspection. Below is our roof inspection preparation checklist:
- Remove moss and debris from the roof,
- Remove tree branches that may be in contact with the roof,
- Clean the gutters,
- Check shingles to determine whether some are damaged and in need of replacement,
- Check skylights for cracks and damage,
- Inspect soffit and fascia,
- Divert downspouts away from the house.
Last but not least, you should put together a file documenting any and all repairs you have done on the roof in the past and have it ready for us on inspection day.
Your trusted service provider
We Are Certified San Diego Home Inspectors
All of our inspectors are certified members of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors InterNACHI which is an international association of professional property inspectors.
