Why is it important to know your roof? Without a good roof, anything and everything in your house slowly get ruined. The value of your house goes steadily down, and problems due to even local water damage get worse and worse. It is imperative to know your roof’s condition and to keep it in good shape.
Know the Age of The Roof
It is important to know what kind of roof your house has, what type of roofing material is on the house, and the approximate age and condition of the roof. Of course, any leaks should be fixed as soon as possible. It is also very important to know where your roof is in its service life so that you can budget for the major expense of replacement. The roof might need to be replaced soon, in a few years or in 15 years. If a roof in good shape suffers local damage from wind or weather, it is usually ok to repair it. Once an older roof has been repaired in more than a few places, it is usually time to re-roof. Roofers don’t like to patch roofs because it is often difficult to find the source of a leak. They would much rather replace the entire roof or at least a full section of the roof. If you are unsure of the age of your roof, a roof inspection will give you an age range on your roof. You will also get an idea of the overall roof condition and if there are any problem areas.
Flat or Shingled
Besides age and condition, find out if your house has a flat roof or a shingle roof. Flat roofs, also called low-pitch roofs, are very common in Philadelphia. Also, try to put a name on the materials that are used as roof covering. For flat types, there are hot tar roofs and sheet goods that come in rolls that are laid out and seamed, either with heat or adhesive. Shingle roofs are much steeper than flat roofs and can be covered with slate, asphalt, fiberglass shingles, or other materials. Different roofing materials have different service lives and different maintenance schedules. The short story is your roof, gutters, and downspouts should be inspected once a year or whenever there are leaks, overflows, or apparent damage due to things such as wind, ice, or tree branches.
The More You Know About Your Roof, The Better
Not too many people consider roofing a fun leisure activity, even die-hard DIYers. Some knowledge about your roof will add to peace of mind and help protect you from aggravation and wasting money when it comes time to call a roofer. Everyone needs to call a roofer, at some point, even builders.
Take the time to find a good roofer, as good as you can afford. You have to live with their work for a long time. You want to avoid a call-back at all costs. Use a roofer with a good reputation so they will com back promptly if their work needs a touch-up. Use due diligence, search the web, ask your neighbors, talk to roofers you see working in your area, and talk to other contractors that have worked for you. Good roofers are hard to find. You might find a young, up-and-coming roofer that does great work for a little less. Overall, it is better to pay the market price if you can afford it. Unless you have a strong referral from another contractor, get a few bids until at least 2 prices are in the same ballpark. In roofing, you definitely get what you pay for.
Top Inspections LLC does stand-alone drone roof inspections with a written report starting at $250. Call or text 215 432 5729 to get your questions answered.