Make Sure Your Home Inspector Takes A Good Look At The Roof
Home inspections are nothing new but they have not been a standard practice for purchasers until quite recently. Many buyers cannot picture buying a property without having it professionally inspected. There are many areas of a home that the inspector is looking at to examine its condition and one of the most critical is the roof. Even though you are looking to the advise of an expert it is important to have an understanding of what is being inspected and why.
The roof of a home shields it from the weather so it is critical to know that there are no serious issues. Based on what place you reside in roofs will be designed to combat the different conditions that are common to the area. That’s why it is not only important to inspect the roof but to also get it inspected by a person that is knowledgeable about local building codes. For example a Toronto home inspector will review a roof’s capability to protect the house from heavy rains in the summer as well as ice and snow in the winter. If you live down south there are different requirements for hurricane and high wind protection.
The pitched roof is by far the most common type that is constructed is North America. There are essentially four pieces that are used in its construction. The framing supplies the support for the whole roof. On top of the framing plywood is laid that makes what is referred to as the deck. In older homes wood boards were often used to build the roof deck that the waterproof covering will be affixed to. On top of the deck there has to be a waterproof barrier that protects not only the roof itself but the whole home.
A certified home inspector is going to look at a number of different areas when inspecting the roof. The first is the state of the shingles. Shingles may have a lifespan of about 25-50 years but no two sides of the house age at the same rate. The sides of the roof that receive the most sun usually deteriorate faster. With asphalt shingles, which are the most common, they will begin to curl, peal and crack. This may allow water to get in and rot the deck and structure of the roof.
Although roofs need to be waterproof they just as importantly have to breath. This is done through adequate ventilation by using roof vents and the soffit. Because the roof is the tallest point on the home warm air will travel up and collect in the attic. If this air is not permitted to escape the moisture that is trapped will cause damage to theroof and to the deck. There might not be any visible signs from the outside but the roof is deteriorating from the inside. Most disconcerting is that moisture in the attic can cause mold growth which can pose a significant health risk.
Issues that may be found in the roof can be repaired. It may be something as simple as putting in extra vents or getting new shingles installed. Even damaged parts of the deck can be fixed quite easily. A home inspector will be able to advise you as to level of the problem and how to rectify it.
Tags: home buying, home inspection, real estate