Did you know that most insurance claims made by homeowners are for roofing? Most people don’t pay much attention to the roof until it begins to leak. By that time, what could have been nothing but a minor annoyance will probably have given rise to a series of more serious issues all around the home. For instance, mold and moisture penetration resulting from a leak can threaten your home’s structural integrity–as well as the health of its occupants. Leaks can also affect your electrical systems, causing power outages and possibly, even fires. Scheduling regular inspections and repairs can help you pinpoint problems before they get worse.
The Importance of Professional Inspections and Maintenance
Experts agree that roofing systems should be inspected at least twice a year. Regular inspections cover two important aspects: checking for necessary repairs, and estimating the roof’s life span. Roof inspection should be a job left to the pros. Climbing a ladder and walking around on the roof when you don’t really know what you’re doing or looking for is dangerous not only for you, but also for your system. A highly skilled roof inspector has the right equipment and is knowledgeable in safety procedures. What’s more, a specialist is capable of finding potential problems that aren’t visible to the untrained eye, such as hail and wind damage, which can result in leaks.
When to Inspect the Roof
Aside from inspecting and maintaining your roof twice a year, we recommend to have it inspected:
- Following a powerful storm, such as a hurricane or a hailstorm, to check if there’s been damage to the roof; if there has been, this will allow you to file an insurance claim.
- After a new roofing system has been installed, to make sure the work has been completed in accordance with local building codes.
- When planning to upgrade or install a major exterior component that will somehow affect the roof, such as skylights and new gutters.
- As part of your home’s preventive maintenance routine.
Roof replacement or re-roofing are both types of major roof work, and both can cost a significant amount of money. Watch out for the last part of this three-part blog series, where we’ll share important concepts about these projects.
