A roof inspection is one of those preventative jobs that are easy to overlook.

Why you need a roof inspection?
• Is your roof installed properly?
• Has your roof been damaged by recent hail or wind storm?
• Would you like to know the true condition of your roof?
• Is your roof, chimney or skylight leaking?

A roof inspection will answer those and many more questions about the state of your roof and life expectancy.
Roof inspectors will take into consideration the following:

• Type of Roof: Composition shingle, wood shake, Clay or concrete tile, slate, metal or steel, tar and gravel, synthetic

• Age of Roof – Tile roofs can last 50 years, as long as nobody has walked on them – because weight in the wrong places causes cracking and breakage. Composition shingle roofs are often warranted for 20 to 40 years, depending on the quality of the material.

• Roof Pitch – The steepness of a roof is known as its pitch. The higher the number, the steeper the roof. To calculate pitch, measure one horizontal foot of the roof, following a level horizontal line. Now measure how much higher the roof is at that point, known as the rise of the roof, along a vertical line. If the roof rises 4 inches per foot, the pitch is 4; if it rises 12 inches per foot — a 45 degree angle — the pitch is 12, generally the steepest you’ll find.

• Number of Layers – Some cities have enacted ordinances regarding the number of layers that are allowed on a roof before a complete tear-off will be necessary.

• Previous Roof Repairs – Roof inspectors will want to examine a previous repair to make sure it was done correctly and won’t cause future problems.

Your roof takes care of you — returns the favor with a yearly inspection that’ll stop moisture damage and head off expensive repairs.