Serving Kern County for over 40 years
Roof Inspections: What You Should Know About Getting a Roof Check
Roof Inspection: Everything You Need to Know About Inspecting a Roof
Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home, which is why getting a roof inspection is an important measure to take to ensure your roof is safe and well maintained.
Any time you experience some sort of damage to your roof, a roof inspection should be performed before starting any roofing projects. This is true whether for a repair, replacement, or installation on either a residential or commercial roof. Additionally, inspecting a roof needs to be done by a professional to get a true roof checkup.
Thankfully, Wilson Brothers Roofing is an independent roof inspector with over 40 years of experience. Whether it’s after a damaging storm or simply for an annual inspection, Wilson Brothers Roofing is here to perform a roof check to meet all of your roofing needs.
Roof Inspection 101: How to Inspect a Roof
If you are a homeowner, you can perform a home roof inspection to get an idea of your roof’s current condition. However, it takes a professional roof inspector to do a full assessment.
A professional roof damage inspection will look for those less-obvious signs of damage. Let’s discuss how you can look for signs of damage and what a professional roof inspection entails.
Your Initial Inspection: Inspecting a Roof as a Homeowner
It’s good to know what to look for when assessing roof damage. Taking a look at your own home will give you insight into when it’s time to bring in a professional. Note that when looking for signs of damage, it’s always best to get a professional opinion.
It’s also in your best interest to have a professional undertake any repairs if you do notice damage. Here are some signs to look for when doing a “home inspection” on your own roof:
- Leaking in your attic
- Discoloration in your walls
- Missing shingles from the ground level
- Curling shingles
- Plant and lichen growth in your gutters
- Sagging or sinking in your roof
Cracks on your interior - Moss or lichen growing on shingles
- Obvious cracks in your roof’s flashing
- Rusting flashing
If you see any signs of damage, contact Wilson Brothers Roofing right away. We will head over for a roof inspection as soon as possible.
Getting a Professional Roof Inspection
When we come to inspect your roof, we will assess four main categories:
- Interior: The best place to start for a roof leak inspection is not on your roof itself but inside your home. We will come in and check for mold, rot, discoloration, water stains, and other signs of leak damage. From there, we can gather enough information to pinpoint the origin of the leak.
- Roof type & material: We will perform a thorough roof check for your roof type and all accessories that may be damaged or allow openings in your roof.
- Foundation: We will check your roof’s planes, soffits, fascias, gutters, and overall structural integrity.
- Original placement: We will look at the original layout and installation of your roof either for the original foundation or any additions.
Here are some more things to be on the lookout for when inspecting a roof:
- Misplaced nails in shingles can lead to a shorter lifespan of your roof and individual shingle damage.
- Poor ventilation can lead to moisture buildup, making your roof foundation more susceptible to leaks and other damage.
- Spongy roof decking happens when the foundation of your roof has been exposed to water. A roof decking needs to be solid.
- Although skylights and other accessories can be an asset to your home, they also increase the risk of leaks and other damage. We will assess the stability of your roof accessories.
- We will also check how many layers are on your roof. Inspecting each layer will determine if there should be a repair or a total replacement.
A professional roof inspector can pinpoint and thoroughly assess the less obvious forms of damage on a roof. The faster damage is identified, the sooner we can solve the problem.
Wilson Brothers Roofing provides both residential roofing services and commercial roofings services. Call us today to inspect your home or business.
What Is Included in a Roof Report?
A roof report is needed in order for a homeowner to have a roof certification. Roof certifications are usually required before a sale is finalized when buying and selling a house.
Your roof report will give a comprehensive assessment of what we found while performing a roof inspection. These are some of the categories that will be covered in a roof report:
- Roof type, such as asphalt shingle, slate tile, or metal roof
- Number of layers
- Roof pitch, which is the slope of your roof
- Roof age
- Estimation of your roof’s lifespan based on its current condition
- Current damages
- Recommendations for repair
- Recommendations for prevention of future damage
Even if you are not buying or selling a house, or are required to get a roof inspection, it’s beneficial to have this information on hand to be aware of any damages and potential preventative measures you can take now. Having a durable roof is an investment. The more roof inspection and maintenance done on your roof, the longer it will last.
Roof Inspection Near Me: When to Call a Roof Inspector
Roof inspection and maintenance is important year-round, but there are times that are most efficient for getting your roof checked out. Below are the times when getting a roof inspection matters most.
After Extreme Weather
The first and most obvious time to get in contact with your local roof inspector is after a big storm. This could be rain, hail, wind, or other extreme weather.
Anytime your roof may have experienced damage, you want a roof inspector to come out and give a professional assessment of any damage. Even if there is minuscule damage, it should be taken care of immediately so that it doesn’t turn into a larger issue.
At the End of Autumn
Although Kern County has a pretty standard climate year round, it sees its share of cold temperatures come late fall and into winter. The general principle for roof installment and replacement is to start the project in spring.
Even roof repair solutions can take six months to finalize. Doing these projects in spring allows for roofing projects to be done all at once without compromising the treatment or installation due to colder weather.
When starting a project in spring, it’s best to actually get the inspection done before spring, typically at the end of fall. This is because an issue may be discovered too late for a timely fix, meaning current damage could get worse before a solution can be implemented.
The timing for a roof inspection is critical. Getting inspections around late fall allows for enough time to plan the project come spring!
When the Homeowner Sees Damage
If you notice any damage to your home’s interior or to your roof, call Wilson Brothers Roofing for a roof inspection right away. We can perform a professional roof check to assess the damage and to look for other problems that may have occurred in addition to the already visible damage.
Other Times to Get Your Roof Inspected
There are still more times when you may be required—or it would be in your best interest—to talk to a professional roof inspector. These times include:
- When your homeowners insurance policy needs a roof certification
- When you are looking to purchase a home
- When you are selling your home
- When a loan requires roof certification
- When you need a roof certification before closing on a property
Speak with your real estate agent, insurance agent, and local roof inspection provider at Wilson Brothers Roofing to know when you will need a roof certification, which requires inspecting a roof.
How Long Does a Roof Inspection Take?
On the day of your roof inspection, you can expect us to be there anywhere from 45 minutes to a few hours. The length depends on the size of your roof and how severe any damage is. If you have questions, feel free to call us before we head over to perform a roof assessment.
Talk to an independent Roof Inspector Today
After reading this page, you may be wondering “Where can I find a roofing inspector near me?” Luckily for you, Wilson Brothers Roofing has been in the professional roofing business in the greater Kern County area for over 40 years!
We are a roofing company that started right out of founder Guy Wilson’s truck. We’ve kept that small business mentality, yet have grown into a company with large business capabilities.
If you’re looking for an independent roof inspector, the team here at Wilson Brothers Roofing is the business for you. Our first priority is customer satisfaction, which is why we make sure to give our Kern County community the roofing professionalism they need at an affordable price. Call Wilson Brothers Roofing at (661) 589-4297 or fill out an online contact form today!
Interested in roofing repair or replacement? Check out our products page to start looking at designs and materials for your home or business.