Professional Roof Inspection: What to Expect
When our company inspects an Easton Maryland roof, our inspector will look for leaks, unusual wear and tear, wind-blown debris issues, organic growth issues, and problems that may have occurred during the installation of the shingles or subsequent repairs.
Overall, the roof inspection can be divided into three main categories that can be easily understood: materials, structural, and workmanship.
Material Inspection: During this part of the inspection, the inspector will look for loose, missing, or damaged shingles; algae; rust; discoloration (stains), and missing flashing. Easily spotted, and one of the signs that a roof is overdue for replacement, is when shingle aggregate settles in valleys of the roof or signs that the aggregate that may be accumulating in other areas of the gutter system. Also, the inspector will look at the roof’s vents to determine if the seals around the vents show sign of wear and/or deterioration, the inspector will look for signs of deterioration and areas where water may leaking in.
Structural Inspection: During this part of the inspection, the inspector will check for any areas where the roof may be sagging due to the buildup of water or snow which puts too much weight on the existing structure. In addition the inspector will examine the soffit, fascia, and gutter system to ensure that water is funneling water the correct direction. During this time, chimney caps are inspected for cracks and crumbling grout on masonry chimneys.
Workmanship Inspection: During this phase, the roofing inspector will conduct a thorough examination to see if there are any defects due to subpar workmanship that might increase the chance of leaks, sagging or early material deterioration. For instance: missing flashing around a chimney, skylight or other roof penetration; incorrect shingle overlay; used the wrong roofing material for the slope of the roof; or inadequate roof ventilation are all potential pitfalls you should know about.
Helping Residential & Commercial Owners
How Often Should A Maryland Easter Shore Roof Be Inspected?
Whether it’s a foot of snow falling overnight or high winds tearing through Easton MD, your roof is the first line of defense against storms. As soon as a leak in the ceiling appears, many homeowners place blind faith in their roof and ignore it completely, resulting in structural problems, structural damage, or damage to insulation to name a few.
Maintaining an inspection of your roof on a periodic or routine basis can help you avoid headaches down the road and actually save you money and decrease the frustration of the unknown.
We start with an inspection – Not a sales pitch!
Our recommendation is once a year, especially if you have an aged roof or one older than 5 years, then your roof needs to be inspected. Unfortunately, many homeowners put off this important task, many times because they don’t know what’s involved.
For newer roofs with no signs of indoor leaking and that have not been exposed to any major weather events since it was installed or since it’s the last checkup. In this case, a self-check visual inspection in the attic and ceiling along with an external inspection of the rooftop is probably sufficient.
Just remember, harsher climates or constant rooftop visits to repair a chimney or swamp cooler, for instance, will require more frequent roof inspections than someone not in that situation.
We know – thinking of a roofing inspection as one of those unpleasant and undelightful periodic medical examinations that have to be accomplished – ugh!
Roofing Issues & Warranty Protection
Lastly, let me mention warranty protection. Many roofing warranties ‘may require‘ an annual inspection, or possibly one every other year or so. So don’t be unaware as many homeowners are surprised when they are told by their warranty company that their roofing issue is not covered.
So, check your warranty and read the fine print so you are not surprised or shocked when you do have a roofing issue, and you engage your insurance company.
Don’t wait until you need to use your insurance company due to storm damage to learn from the company what the policy does not cover. Yikes!
I would rather homeowners be prepared than to be shocked. We hate costly surprises as much as you do!
If you are in our service area, which extends as west as St. Michaels, MD, or as east as Harmony, MD, we are just a few minutes away from helping you and addressing your roofing needs.
So, to keep your roof properly maintained and have it inspected and create YOUR peace of mind.
If you need a Roof Inspection on Maryland’s Eastern Shore; look no further.
Give us a direct CALL at:
410-505-7300
“We start with an inspection – not a sales pitch”