Get A Roof Health Check Inspection Completed Annually

Your roof could be leaking right now, causing thousands of dollars of damage and major headaches, and you don’t even know it. In fact, many roof problems are only discovered after they’ve reached an advanced stage – after leakage or other serious damage has already occurred.

Many homeowners do not pay attention to their roof until there’s water leaking into the house, or they notice stains on the ceiling, walls or other obvious signs of leaks. However, if damage occurs or if there is a problem with your roof, as shown in these photos, unless it is large enough to be seen in the first 2 or 3 rains it may not become evident for another four to eight years. By then, there could be major damage to the roof sheathing, damaged insulation and drywall and even mold and mildew – creating the need for major repairs or even a complete roof replacement.

To add years of life to your roof, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) recommends two roof inspections each year to avoid premature roof failure. Studies reveal that small leaks are the worst kind of leaks because they eat away at your home destroying everything in their path, similar to an undetected cancer. All-inclusive inspections become even more important in slow economic time to ensure you receive the maximum service life from your roof and avoid premature roof replacement.

You can do a preliminary inspection yourself, looking for shingles that are curling, blistering or missing; loose material or wear around chimneys, pipes and other penetrations; and broken or missing tile. To maximize your protection it is better to get a professional to inspect your roof – someone skilled in walking on roofs without causing further damage, who knows what they’re looking for and is experienced in finding those small leaks.

The cost of a roof inspection by a professional is insignificant compared to the cost of repairing or replacing a roof; this makes regular roof inspections a wise investment. Wouldn’t you prefer to find potential leaks and related damage before they become real problems? And before they lead to major repair bills? It’s really no different than going to a doctor for a checkup even when you’re not feeling sick.

The small amount paid for a professional inspection can save you thousands of dollars and has proven to provide homeowners years of additional service life. Some roofers will offer you a free inspection but you should be aware that all inspections cost money and are never really free they may even create problems to cover their costs, even if a repair is not needed and you end up paying for the inspection anyway. By agreeing to pay the inspection fee up front you eliminate the “need to create a problem” and positioning yourself to receive an accurate and unbiased evaluation.