7 Reasons Why Routine Roof Inspections Are Important

Can you name the most valuable asset that you own? I’ll give you some hints. It keeps you safe, warm, and dry. It holds all of your valuables. You sleep in it…ok ok. You get the point, it’s your home. Big or small, all of our homes are valuable and important to us for everyday living. When you think of home repairs does your roof come to mind? Probably not. In our experience, there have been homeowners that have never gotten a roof inspection by a professional, and guess what?! When they did, it was damaged and needed to be replaced. This is why we, Maranatha Roofing Professionals, recommend getting your roof inspected at least twice a year, especially after major wind and hail storms. 

Now let's get a better understanding of what a roof inspector is looking for. Roof inspections not only uncover common roofing problems, but a professional roofer can also help guide you through the repair process. When we do a roof inspection, we inspect the structure of the roof, the materials used on the roof, the workmanship of the last roofer as well as the interior of the home for any signs of damage, excess moisture, or water stains. As a responsible homeowner, you want to do preventative maintenance to stay ahead of the game, and that goes with all aspects of your home, but especially your roof.

These are 7 reasons why roof inspections are important and should be done regularly.

Stopping Damage Before It Starts 

Even though a roof is the first line of defense in protecting the people and property inside your home, it is often overlooked. Sometimes only getting the attention it deserves after the damage has already happened. It's not always easy or even recommended for a homeowner to try and inspect their roof. Even if we make it look easy, this can be a dangerous job without the proper equipment. Roofing professionals have a trained eye and will inspect all of the common and uncommon aspects of your roof, looking for foreseeable system failure. This can include things loose flashing, broken seals on shingles, clogged gutters affecting water shedding, and many other things.

Proper Drainage 

As we mentioned above, proper drainage on a roof is essential in preventing damage to not only your shingles but the decking and other components that can be affected by standing and pooling water. We will let you know if there is anything hindering water from evacuating your roof. You may need to get your gutters cleaned, we will inform you of any leaf build-up or branches on your roof as well as ensure all chimneys and other structures have adequate drainage paths.

Routine Maintenance

When you have a new 30-year roof installed it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will not need to make any repairs for 30 years. There are still aspects of every roof that need routine maintenance. In the hot Texas sun caulking and seals around protrusions and intrusions can fail. This would be around things such as skylights or vents, and anything that goes through the shingles into the home or attic. We will also check around other appliances on the roof. We want to ensure that there's no damage from any maintenance they may have received.

Warranty Repairs

Just like any other high-value item that you purchase, your new roofing system will also have a warranty. It has 2 warranties, one from the roofing professional who installs the new roof and the other warranty from the manufacturer. Make sure your roofing professional provides at least a 2-year workmanship warranty. In rare cases there have been recalls on roofing materials, this is why it's always important to use a roofing material manufacturer that stands behind their warranties and will cover the cost of replacement and repairs. Here at Maranatha Roofing Professionals, we use Atlas products, follow this link to see the warranties they offer. During our workmanship warranty life span, it is required to have 6-month roof inspections by us.

Leak Assessment

This is one of the most common reasons we are called to come out and inspect a roof. You see a water stain on your ceiling after a storm that wasn’t there before. Leak origination discovery can seem like a daunting task, the leak in the roof is not always in direct line with the visible water spot due to the nature and slope of the roof. We have specialized equipment that detects moisture changes in the wood and insulation to make the task of locating the leak quick and easy, in most cases. 

Storm Damage

The reason why we recommend getting a roof inspection after any major storm is simple, to ensure your roof was not damaged. During a storm, there are high winds, dirt, and debris flying everywhere. We also get the occasional golf ball-size hail storms. In these situations, entire neighborhoods can be affected. A professional roofer will be able to give you sound advice if any damage is found. Your roofer must have the experience and knowledge to work with your insurance adjuster to get you to put it back together. We are specialists in that area and will make sure your home is returned to pre-storm condition.

Weathering and Aging

Texas is known for its sudden shifts and changes in weather. We have scorching hot days, below-freezing days, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and even life-threatening hail storms. Your roof is exposed in every situation 365 days a year. It can take a beating. Some roofing materials hold up better than others. Each roof has its own story to tell, and a professional roofer will be able to assess where your roof is at. Roofs can become brittle over time, they can go through drastic expansion and contraction cycles called thermal shock and many things. 

As you can see, it is in your best interest to have your roof inspected by a professional at least twice a year. Routine inspections can be the difference between an unexpected very costly repair or replacement and expected manageable maintenance costs. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Maranatha Roofing Professionals would love to provide you with a semi-annual roof inspection schedule to ensure you stay informed about your roof. Our inspections are free of charge and we can provide you with same-day appointments. After a major storm, if you get a knock on the door and it's us, please understand, we are in this business because we care about you and want to help protect your greatest asset, your home.