Too many of us take roofs for granted until we have issues or defects on the roofs. Roofing is a very important part of a building and there is the need to have good knowledge about it. You need to understand how to inspect your roof to detect leakages, wear and tear, and other roofing problems.

It is worth practising routine checks or inspections on your roof as part of your home maintenance. What entails a roof inspection? Let’s find out!

The Roof Inspection Process

During a roof inspection, there are some vital issues that need to be observed. Below are the areas:

1.  Inspecting of Roof Gutters

The roof gutters are one of the most important parts of a roof system which must be checked regularly. Roof gutters are horizontal metal parts of a roofing system installed along the eave edges of the roof to ease the downflow of water from the roof. When water uncontrollably drips out from a rooftop, it is a sign of roof issues that can be addressed when the roof gutters are cleaned and managed. The roof gutters prevent the water from reaching the walls of the building. To a large extent, inspecting and maintenance of roof gutters determine the lifespan of the roof.

2.  Look for Moulds and Mildews

Moulds and mildews are a variety of microorganisms that produce stains, cause damage to objects and cause allergic reactions and other respiratory problems. Moulds and mildews grow mostly in the attic of a roof. During the inspection of moulds, you can treat them with bleach solutions.

Here are the symptoms to detect the presence of mould or mildew on the roofing system:

• Dark stains on the surface of roofs
• Wet insulation on the attic
• The musty and damp smell of mildew
• Frost build-up on the underside of the roof system

It is worth knowing that insufficient roof ventilation is a major cause of the growth and development of mould and mildew.

3.  Inspect for Any Leakage

Roof leakage is a major problem when it comes to roofing system management. Wear, tear, uneven expansion and contraction of the roofing system are major causes of roof leakages. A simple check for roof leakage is by inspecting where the roof meets at the top of the exterior wall. When you detect any open gap or space, water is probably getting there. In simple terms, when you see any water dripping off in your room, it is a confirmation of roof leakage.

For local roofs in which a nail is applicable in the roof set-up, check the nail contact with the roof to detect any leakage.

4.  Closely Inspect the Attic

The attic of the roof must be checked closely to observe whether some of the wood is rotten or not. Moreover, check on how ventilation takes place in the attic system. A clear look at the attic gives a clear condition of the nature of the roof.

5. Check for Any Loose and Cracked Shingles

Inspect the roof to see whether some shingles have become loose. Loose and cracked shingle parts are weak portions of a roof system where water can penetrate to cause leakages and weaken the roofing system.

6.  Check the Inside Out of The Roof

After a heavy downpour, you can use a flashlight or torchlight to check the inside of the roof in your room to detect some roof issues. Check whether there is the wetting of the decker or rafters.

READ ALSO: Importance of roof ventilation

How Do You Know If Your Roof Is Damaged?

Knowing whether your roof is damaged entails both technical expertise and a simple look. Some roofs cannot withstand harsh weather conditions and they thereby deteriorate in such times. Just having a look at the structure can tell you a lot.

Roof damaging is a gradual process that takes place in some instances without being noticed.

Here are some of the signs to know if your roof is gradually damaging:

• Detecting rust of roof gutters.
• Detecting leaks and usual downflow.
• Uncontrollable dripping of water from the rooftop during a downpour.
• Finding out that some nails or fasteners are removed.
• The invasion of moss, moulds and fungi on the roof corners.
• Detecting wet spots on deckers or rafters.
• Detecting roof ventilation issues.

When Should You Inspect a Roof?

The best time for a roof inspection would be after a heavy storm or rainfall. The roof would have been thoroughly tested to reveal any forms of weaknesses after a heavy downpour. Also, when you are in the process of purchasing or hiring a house, you need to do a roof check.

What Will Fail a Roof Inspection?

A roof inspection will fail when the necessary inspection techniques are not applied. Seek advice from an expert if you have little knowledge of roof inspection before attempting it; do not walk on the roof as it is very dangerous. Better still, you can employ an expert to do the checks after harsh weather conditions. Additionally, wear protective and safe clothes when climbing the roof and doing all sorts of roof checking.

How To Inspect Your Roof: What to Do If You Can’t Afford a New Roof?

The cost of changing an old deteriorating roof is virtually like buying a new roof, which can be quite costly since you will have to pull down the old roof. In an instance where you cannot afford a new roof, you can repair the damaging roof.

You can call your roof expert to perform general checks on the roof to determine whether it can be repaired to work very efficiently.

Since roof ventilation is a huge boost to roof lifespan, you can also sort out the issues about roof ventilation. Generally, you will have to do a gradual renovation of the parts from time to time.

How Do I Know My Roof Has Wind Damage?

The wind is a major cause of roof damage and can be managed when roof installers take wind effects into account. Some of the signs of the roof being damaged by wind include breaking, damaging, and removing shingles. Additionally, water leaks are a sign of the roof being damaged by wind.

READ ALSO: Improving your home: how to clean your roof – Domod Roof

How Do I Know My Roof Has Storm Damage?

A storm is a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds. In this instance, the winds blow very strongly and this rapidly destroys roofs. The shingles get missing as a result of storms, destruction of roof gutters and loose debris.

How Often Should Roof Be Replaced?

From technical experts, it is advisable to inspect your roof twice a year. For newly constructed roofs, you can wait for one year to start your routine checking of roofs. The checks will determine if you need to replace your roof or not.

How Can You Tell How Old a Roof Is?

To tell how old a roof is, you can simply ask the owner of the building or you can determine how old a roof is, by finding the building permit. You can also judge by the colour of the roof. A bright radiant colour suggests the roof was installed a few months ago. A dull colour may suggest that it was installed years ago; all depending on the quality of material used as some roofing materials fade more quickly than others.

What Does Roof Leak Look Like?

A roof leak is simply defined as water penetrating the roof and ceiling, hence, finding its way into your room. The early sign of roof leak is the spots on the interior ceiling. A bad smell comes as a result of the water wetting the wooden part of the roof. Improper sealing or use of fasteners is a major cause of roof leaks in the world and as such companies are now producing roofs that do not use nails. The use of Light Frame Steel trusses helps prevent the bad smell that soaked wood produces.

What Happens During Roof Maintenance?

During roof maintenance, this is what you need to do:

• Check your roof gutters to clean debris and waste materials that can block the passage of water.
• Use pliers to adjust the bent part of the roof.
• Use bleaching solutions to remove moulds, mildew and other fungi.
• Tighten any loose part of the roof.

With all this, your main aim is to know how to inspect your roof to detect unusual activities.

Importance Of Roof Inspections

A roof inspection is done to find any problem associated with the roof and also to measure the lifespan of the roof. When you undertake roof inspection, you obtain some actions that need to be taken to enhance the efficiency of the roof and prevent further damages. You can determine the strength of the roof, and other important properties during the checking of the roof.

READ ALSO: Roof Repairs: Patch or replace?

Roof Inspector

A roof inspector is a skilled personnel who technically can examine the roof. A roof inspector undertakes examination, alteration, and repair of both commercial and residential roof systems. This is done following the building codes and safety regulations. Domod Roof has well-trained roof inspectors that can visit your site to check your roof for you.

If you find yourself worried about how to inspect your roof, you need a roof inspector or some roofing tips.

How To Check Your Roof (How To Basically Inspect Your Roof)

Although you might have little knowledge of roofing, you can do a basic check on your roof. We always advise hiring the services of an expert when you have to physically climb the roof for inspection.

You can begin by checking whether there is rust on any metallic part of the roof. Additionally, you can check on the weakening or removal of any fastener on the roof. Detecting leaks and the ventilation nature of the roof also gives you an idea of the nature of your roof. Checking a roof is the same as performing a roof inspection.w

You have to know how to inspect your roof to measure the strength, efficiency and lifespan of your roof. There are some obvious signs and also other minute signs that only trained professionals will notice.