How Often Should You Have Your Roof Inspected?

Right now, the United States has about 75 million single-family homes.

Each of those homes has a roof and regardless of what kind of roof it is, it needs to be inspected on a regular basis. Many homeowners forget to give their roof any attention and this can lead to some serious problems later.

If you think that it might be time for a roof inspection, keep reading to learn more about what you need to know.

4 Reasons to Get a Roof Inspection Done

You may not know it, but there are certain things that can go wrong on your roof that get worse over time. If you leave things unchecked, it may impact the integrity and safety of your home.

1. Storm Damage

High winds, heavy rain, and wild hail are all things that can seriously damage your roof. You may need repairs or even insurance claims after storms wreak havoc on top of your home.

After a big weather event, you need to make sure your roof is inspected to prevent any damage from getting worse. There may be no problems, there may be small problems with minor maintenance, or there may be large problems that need attention right away.

You may need emergency repairs in some cases, so getting an expert roof inspection done is the smartest way to handle this situation.

2. Vegetation Damage

You may have seen weeds, plants, or even trees growing in gutters before. When gutters and other low areas on the roof are not cleaned out, it’s a great spot for vegetation to grow.

You may also find that birds can nest there and deposit seeds, furthering the vegetation damage as those seeds grow into plants.

The biggest issue with this is that it can penetrate into the roof membrane. Once there, it may create leaking throughout the room that will damage the inside and outside of your home.

3. Home Security

Any homeowner wants to protect their home, but many of us don’t think about the roof as the place for someone to break in.

People can get in through your roof when there are weaknesses, especially if they are easy to see from the ground.

Inspecting your roof regularly to prevent security threats is actually very important.

If there is a small hole in part of the roof that you haven’t noticed or even a loose skylight, those are opportunities for people to get into your home undetected.

4. Aging

Most low-slope roofs will last for about 20 to 30 years. If you have a single-ply roof, you can expect the roof to last between 15 and 20 years.

No matter what, your roof is going to get older as time goes by. Weathering and aging are part of the process and eventually, your roof will need replacing.

As your roof gets older, you may find that there are more problems that pop up. If you address the problems right away, you can prevent them from getting worse and causing the need for an emergency roof replacement.

How Often Do You Need a Roof Inspection?

Completing your roof inspection regularly is going to be the best way to prevent damage to your roof that can lead to other problems, like leaks or interior damage.

In general, you need to have your roof inspected at least 2 times per year. You can do self-checks on your roof to see if there is anything you notice in addition to hiring a professional to check it out for you.

Once during the spring and once during the fall are perfect times to have this done. This way, you know that your roof is ready before each of the seasons that have more intense weather.

Some materials have stronger lifespans than others and there are many factors, such as where you live, that will affect your roof’s needs.

Your roof can be impacted by temperature changes and dramatic weather, so be aware of this when you’re choosing the best times for your roof inspection.

Should You Do It Yourself?

A thorough roof inspection may be harder to do than you think it is. After all, you don’t want to do it incorrectly and realize later that you missed something important.

It’s a good idea for you to check out your roof on your own a few times each year, but you also need someone with proficiency in case there is something wrong that you don’t notice.

Hiring a professional is the best idea because they have more experience, skill, and expertise. Not only do they know what they need to look for, but they have done it so many times that they know what is easy to miss.

Using a roof inspection checklist is a good idea. If you decide to do it yourself, it gives you a better idea of what you need to pay attention to during the inspection.

Need an Inspection?

Now that you can see the importance of a roof inspection, you may be ready to get a professional out to your house right away.

Remember that performing quick inspections yourself at least a few times per year is a good idea. Besides that, getting a professional to take an expert look will keep your roof healthy for a long time.

Keeping your roof in good shape will save you money in the long run.

If you want more information on the services we provide, check out our website and see if we can help.