How often do you think about your roof? Does it constantly worry you as a mystery above your head? Or did you not think about it at all until you came across this article? Your roof is a critical part of your home, and can represent one of the most significant costs if it is in need of repair, but for many homeowners, their roof remains a mystery. You generally assume it’s fine and doing its job until suddenly one day its not. You don’t have to be surprised by roof problems, though! You can get a roof inspection to determine the current state of your roof and know what needs addressed now and what might be a problem in the future. But how do you know when you need to get an inspection?
You notice any issues during a self inspection
The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends you should perform a self check on your roof twice a year. Once in the spring and once in the fall. This should include walking around the outside of your home, watching for sagging, pooling water, discoloration, and missing or loose shingles. If possible, take safety precautions and also perform a visual inspection of the interior of your roof, entering your attic or crawlspace and looking for signs of water damage or penetration. If you notice any indication of a possible issue, it’s time to schedule a professional inspection and assessment.
When it’s a new home
If you have just purchased your home, it might be a good time to get a roof inspection. Likely you got a full home inspection when you were going through the home buying process, and that may have caught a few roof issues at the time. However, a concentrated inspection of your roof by a roofing inspection may still be called for. Given the fact that you’ve not lived in the home, you aren’t going to be aware of what risks might be present and what underlying issues may need addressed.
If there’s been a significant damage risk event
Every once in a while, your home may be subject to some significant risk like a large branch or tree falls on the roof, or a tornado passes by. Even if you don’t see obvious damage caused to the roof, it may be worthwhile to have an inspection performed. Components of the roof may have been loosened or otherwise damaged in a way that might not become immediately clear. Especially if you haven’t had a professional inspection recently, this would be a good time to get one.
It’s been a few years since the last one
Finally, if you are fortunate enough to have had the kind of life where there’s been no visible issues with your roof, you’ve lived in your home for a while, and there’s been no significant risks of damage, it’s still a good idea to get a professional roof inspection every few years. If you have an asphalt shingle roof, the most common roof type in Greater Cincinnati, getting a professional inspection every 3 years is recommended, while a tile roof may be able to wait 4 or 5 years for an inspection.
So wonder no more! If you haven’t had your roof inspected in a while or you have some other reason for worrying about the state of your roof, give us a call today and schedule a full professional inspection!