5 Things a Roof Inspection Will Reveal About a Potential Home
Buying a new house is one of the most exciting and stressful events in a person’s life. There are many things to consider and examine when purchasing a new home: the price, condition, size, feng shui, school zone, etc. Even in a competitive market, the one thing you don’t want to overlook is a quality roof inspection.
The roof is one of the most expensive features of a home. Costly repairs or a new roof could put your dream house out of your budget or make it ineligible for affordable homeowner’s insurance. That’s why it behooves you to hire a Lafayette roofing company like Hibbard Roofing & Construction to perform a complete roof inspection. Your roof inspection report results can help you make an informed decision before committing to a mortgage.
Read on to learn what you should look for in the roof when buying a home.
1. Roof Lifespan
Some Lafayette roofing and general contractors will advise you to ask about the roof’s age before you buy. In some cases, the sellers are obligated to disclose, to the best of their knowledge, the age of the roof.
The challenge is that knowing when a roof was put on doesn’t necessarily tell you what you need to know. Sure, you can consider that the average roof needs to be replaced every 15-20 years and decide when you may need a new roof based on its age, but this may not be the most accurate formula. A poorly installed roof with inferior materials, lack of roof maintenance, and heavy weather conditions can add years to a roof’s age.
A reliable home inspection that covers the roof can look at the wear and tear of the roof and determine its roof life expectancy. This report will give you a more accurate determination of how much time is left on the roof and if it needs any repairs.
2. Ventilation System
Even a house with a new-looking roof may not have a well-designed roof ventilation system. A home’s roof ventilation is vital in helping rid the house of warm, moist air. Without a properly balanced ventilation system, your attic could collect condensation, mildew, and mold.
A sound ventilation system lets sunlight and air in easily while expelling hot air and heat. Too much ventilation can force the home HVAC system to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature and raise utility bills. Too little ventilation runs the risk of infesting your attic and rafters with mold. A skilled residential roofing inspector understands the formula for a balanced ventilation system.
3. Canals and Seepage
A roof inspection will also examine the house’s canals and seepage systems: downspouts, gutters, and drainage pipes. A home’s gutter system helps guide rainwater off the roof and away from the foundation. A damaged or inoperable gutter system can pool water near your foundation or on your roof.
Roofing inspections ensure that the gutters are in good shape and properly hung. They can identify problems like a downspout releasing water onto a roof deck, which is a surefire way to cause a leak in the roof.
4. Roof Inspection for Mold
Mold typically forms when poor ventilation or water leakage occurs, even in hotter, dry climates. Smart homeowners will clean their roofs to avoid the appearance of mold before they list their houses for sale. Most often, a simple solution of chloride bleach and water can get rid of mold or algae from the roof, at least for a little while.
If your Lafayette roof repair and inspection company finds signs of mold, it means water is getting into different roof areas. Merely cleaning the roof with bleach will not eliminate the actual cause of mold buildup.
5. Other Damage or Leaks
A leaky roof is the last thing you want to deal with after taking ownership of a house. A leaky roof allows water to get into the house, which can damage everything from the floors and drywall to your furniture and clothes. Once the leaking begins, it can be challenging to figure out exactly where it is located.
A roof inspection can also include inspecting your attic, rafters, and interior for cracks and leaks. These issues are not present from a drone roof inspection alone but are a critical part of your roof inspection.
Roof damage can be costly to fix, so it is best to know what issues you are dealing with before taking ownership of a home.
Final Homebuying Tips
The state of the house and shingle roof lifespan are critical parts of your roof inspection. The information you get from the roof inspection report may not tell you whether or not to buy the house, but it will ensure you know what issues exist.
Once all your home and roof inspections are complete, you can use the final report to negotiate the final pricing of the house, ask for repairs to be completed before closing, or decide to walk away from the purchase altogether.
While the homeowner may relay some information about the roof, you can’t always trust that they have the most accurate information. You also can’t count on your simple visual inspection to give you the most in-depth information. A professional roof inspection is the only way to guarantee you have the best information to move forward.
If you’re in the Lafayette area and need a roof inspection on a property you may want to buy, don’t hesitate to contact Hibbard Roofing & Construction. Not only do we offer complimentary consultations on your roofing projects, but we can handle all your roofing installation and repair needs. Our final roof report will give you a comprehensive analysis of the roof’s condition and recommended repairs.
Shopping for and buying a new house is stressful enough. Don’t let doubts about a property’s roof keep you from closing on your dream home. Schedule your next roof inspection with Hibbard Roofing & Construction today.