Roof inspections can be very dangerous, so it is important to be safe.
A tool rental company rents the safety harness you will need before getting onto the roof and you will need additional tools to help you inspect the roof.
A ruler for measurement and a pen and paper for calculation is a must.
Roof Services
A roof that has lost its granules and color is a roof that is in poor condition.
Often you can see the loss of granules in the gutter system and downspouts.
If you notice bubbles or blisters on the outer surface of the shingles, this is indicative of poor ventilation.
There should not be any streaking or discoloration of the shingles and if you notice on the roof a pattern of streaking or discoloration, then the roof has a problem with blue algae.
The fungus creates a problem for the fungus grows its roots into the matting of the shingle and causes the shingle to become porous.
Roof Ventilation System
You will need to evaluate the ventilation system for any possible defects or damage.
Roof vents or ridge vent are made of metal and therefore you will need to make sure the metal is not damaged.
Ensure there are no dings or dents present for this would indicate hail damage on the roof.
The caulking should be intact and flush with the metal and the shingle.
If you notice that the integrity of the seal is compromised, then a new seal will have to be applied.
Roof Inspection
A roof inspection should include an examination of the chimney and the simplest way to inspect a chimney is to look for cracks and openings at the wall line.
The shingles should lay flat against the metal flashing and the metal flashing should not be rusted or damaged in any way shape or form.
The shingles on the roof should be in fair condition without any streaking or discoloration noted.
You can also inspect the interior portion of the chimney while inside of the attic.
If you notice water stains on the decking, then the water stains are indicative of an active or prior roof leak.
A moisture meter may be rented from a tool rental company which can help you locate moisture inside the attic which would indicate roof leaks.
Roof Leaks
The most common place for a roof system to leak is around a penetration that is coming through the substrate.
Plumbing pipes or HVAC pipes that are coming through the roof are usually the culprits for most roof damage.
Be sure to inspect each pipe for cracking, openings, and decayed material.
If you should find any of the following, then roof repairs will need to be made.
Roofing cement should be installed at the collar of each pipe.
If the cement is cracked or dried out, then the pipes will need to be re-sealed with new cement.
Roof Layers
Finally, you will need to assess how many layers of roofing material are on the existing decking which can be achieved will while standing at the bottom of the ladder.
Raise the bottom of the shingles while standing on the ladder and look for additional layers of roofing underneath the original roof.
There should not be more than two layers of shingles on any deck and if you find more than two roof layers, the home will require a complete roof system to be installed.
All shingle manufacturers state that a home may have no more than two layers installed onto the roof structure.