As a responsible homeowner, you know the importance of maintaining consistent roofing inspections. Many homeowners forget about their roof’s well-being, only to remember when things go wrong and the roof can no longer offer optimal protection from the elements. While a successful roof inspection is predominantly a professional’s job, homeowners have a significant role to play in the buildup to its success.
Below, we’ll look at some crucial roles you can play to prepare for a successful roof maintenance inspection. By following these preparation tips, you can improve your roof’s performance against weather elements for a long time.
Search for Moss, Leaves, and Algae
Piles of leaves and the growth of moss and algae on your roof are a recipe for problems, especially if you’re approaching the rainy season. Their presence on your roof can cause water flow issues and lead to piling pressure on specific roof sections due to increased weight. They can also trap moisture that can seep in between the sheathing under your shingles and the structural reinforcements of your roof to cause extensive damage.
Removing moss, leaves, and algae as soon as you spot them can help reinstate your roof’s effective performance against water-related issues. You can begin your search by simply walking around your house and checking the gutters for some signs of greenery and dead leaves. If your roof is too high, use binoculars to check it from a strategic point on the ground. You could also climb a ladder and check around the roof for any sign of algae and moss growth.
Once you have a clear picture of the situation, you can schedule professional roof cleaning to eliminate the accumulating debris, algae, or moss growth. Going ahead with the professional team to identify the spots most affected by the accumulation can save them time during removal and fixing. This can save you some money off the quote they’ll raise.
Have a List of Roofers Ready
Maintaining a perfect roof over different seasons depends on how fast you can get help from professional roofers or roof maintenance experts, especially in emergencies. If you live in regions with extreme weather like hurricanes, strong storms, and winds, you may need a reliable list of roofers ready when trouble strikes.
These could be overall roofing experts like the One Way Roofing company that offers several roofing solutions, or specialists in specific roofing problems to deal with specific problems when they arise. Maintaining a good relationship with your roofers can earn instant help outside the ordinary work hours, ensuring your roof is in constant good shape, regardless of the season.
Check the Weather Forecast
Before scheduling your next roofing maintenance inspection, ensure you choose a day and time that will offer favourable working conditions to the roofers. Since roofs are exposed to the elements, waiting until an extreme weather season begins can mean not getting help on time.
For instance, if you live in an area that experiences harsh winters, you’re better off scheduling an inspection before the winter season begins. Following weather forecasts closely can help you plan your roofing inspections on time and get the right repairs done before changing weather seasons.
Review Previous Inspection Documentation and Reports
The time between roofing inspections can be long enough for you to forget the details about the last one. Reviewing previous inspection documentation and reports helps you get acquainted with the status of your roof so you can plan for the next one effectively. You can raise concerns about the potential problems that may have been identified before, so the current team can offer necessary help.
Your documents and reports also have information on recently inspected areas, so you don’t have to re-inspect them just yet. This means you get to focus on the crucial areas that need urgent attention, saving everyone’s time and resources.
Prepare All the Necessary Information
For inspectors to properly assess your roof, they will need access to all the information linked to your roof’s performance. This includes past inspection reports, warranty information, previous damage reports, and the building plan. Having this information ready before the inspection will streamline the process, making it easier to offer necessary help quickly.
It’s even better to take current photos of your roof and send them to the inspector for review before they get on-site. This will help them identify problem areas, such as broken or loose shingles and loose gutters, much faster.
Prepare a Checklist
Having a checklist ready prior to your roofing inspection and repair works can help with efficient maintenance. Before the inspection, create a list of all the areas you want inspected and present it to the roofing inspector when they arrive for the job. You can include any specific tasks or projects you want the inspector to attend to such as gutters, flashing, shingles, and the ventilation system. Ensure you review the checklist with the inspector before and after the inspection to ensure all the components are checked.
Plan for Roofing Inspection Approaches
A proper professional roofing inspection involves a thorough search of every possible sign of damage on and near the roof. This process always encompasses several approaches to roofing inspection for effective results. The major approaches you need to prepare for include:
- Interior approach: Roofing inspectors can approach the inspection from the inside of your house, aiming to catch signs of leaks, aging, moisture, or mold. To execute this inspection effectively, they’ll need easy access to hard-to-reach areas like the attic and ceiling. You should ensure these areas are easily accessible right before the inspection for a seamless process.
- Material inspection/approach: Roofing inspection processes vary depending on the roofing material used on the roof. Preparing for a metal roof inspection might require getting specific tools ahead of the inspection, which you might not need for a clay roof. While these might be smaller, minute details, they’re important for ensuring a perfect roof inspection and maintenance.
- Structural approach: Inspectors will look at a roof’s structure to know if your roof needs to be repaired or not. To help them get an accurate picture of your roof’s structural integrity, you should prepare access areas in advance, including clearing vegetation around your house so they can move around easily.
These seven roofing maintenance preparation tips are crucial for ensuring a successful inspection and maintenance process, whether it’s your first or a repeat inspection project. Ensure you maintain a consistent inspection pattern so you’re able to catch roofing problems early and solve them on time.
