Complete Roof Inspection Checklist to Prevent Serious Problems

Inspecting the Roof Surface

The first thing you need to do is climb onto the roof and inspect its surface. Make sure you wear shoes with a sturdy sole. Have someone hold the ladder while you climb onto the roof. Safety must be your top priority.

Slowly walk around the roof and check for any issues. Pay attention to faded areas. Cracked, warped or other signs of water or moisture may be a problem. Take note of them so you can investigate later.

All this information will help you understand what needs to be done and who to hire as contractors.

Checking Gutters

Over time, gutters get clogged with leaves, dirt and other debris. This is a common occurrence but you need to periodically remove these obstacles for proper water drainage.

You can check the gutters yourself, but this is not recommended. It could be unsafe and you might miss important issues. You may want to hire gutter repair specialists for an inspection of your water drainage system. This gives you a professional evaluation and assurance that your home is in great shape.

If gutters are clogged, water will likely accumulate on the roof. It makes sense since gutters fill up completely and water can't drain. The entire drainage system will be disrupted, and the roof may suffer from water damage.

Removing Debris

A roof inspector should clear the roof of debris. This is necessary so they can efficiently drain water off the roof. Otherwise, they won't be able to work effectively.

Common types of debris include leaves, branches and trash from drainage systems. There may also be contamination that needs removal.

Removing these obstacles will make it easier to assess the roof condition. Experts can move around safely.

Checking for Water Damage

Preventing future water damage is important, but it's also essential to ensure there isn't any existing damage. Make sure your inspector checks for accumulated water.

If there is water damage to the roof, color changes and stains will be visible. Usually these appear near drainage holes and indicate a clog.

There might be a serious issue with the drainage or pipes that a specialist can identify. They will fix any hidden problems so you don't have to worry about water damage or leaks anymore.

Checking the Roofing Material

Roofing material protects your roof and ensures home safety. It prevents water from entering the building. Roofing also shields your home from wind or natural disasters. Essentially, it's a critical part of the building structure that needs to be protected.

One of the main tasks during a roof inspection is checking the condition of the roofing material. Watch out for:

• cracks
• buckled sheets
• separations
• broken elements
• loose fasteners
• bent sections
• granule loss
• lack of sealant
• rust or corrosion
• improper installation

If you find any of these issues during the roof inspection, it's a top priority. Your home will become unsafe and you'll experience leaks and mold damage. Contact an expert immediately.

Interior Roof Check

Many people forget that the roof has an interior part too. It's usually the attic, although sometimes there might be a small crawl space underneath. In any case, this is the inside of the roof within your home.

• Ask a specialist to check:
• proper ventilation
• visible cracks
• light penetration from outside (holes in the roof)
• sagging sheathing between rafters
• signs of condensation
• mold formation

This helps keep the roof safe from the inside!

Conduct a Full Roof Inspection as Soon as Possible

Now that you have the complete roof inspection checklist for modern homeowners, it's time to get started. See what needs to be done with the roof and decide what you can safely do yourself. If in doubt — hire a professional. He will help find problems that you might have missed, using his experience and equipment for safe work.