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Buying a New Home? A Roof Inspection Could Save You Money.

Price Roofing • Jul 06, 2020

Why You Should Get a Roof Inspection Before Buying a House

Roof inspector inspecting a roof

Purchasing a new house is a major milestone for most people. Although most buyers do everything they can, to ensure that their new house has safe electrical wiring and a solid foundation, most of them fail to carry out a roof inspection, something that could cost them tremendously in the long run.

As per the NRCIA, home inspectors report roof deficiencies to be the most commonly seen problem in houses on the market. However, it’s unwise to rely on solely your home inspection report. You can engage the services of a certified home roof inspector for a comprehensive checkup, which can also help you prepare for any major expenses.

Inspect the Roof on Your Own

A simple inspection of the roof can help you gauge its condition the very first time you check out a house. Be on the lookout for missing or damaged shingles, problems with the gutters, dry rot, moss growth, or structural deformities.

If major problems pop up during a rudimentary inspection on your own, that’s a sign that costly repairs might be needed soon. If you don’t have the money to replace or repair the roof, you should definitely stay away from the house.

However, pre-owned homes often come with roofs that have a certain degree of damage. Unless it’s a completely new house, you’re unlikely to find a house with a brand-new roof. 

In such cases, your job is to find out how long it’s going to last and see whether it’s been maintained with care. Check for the quality of shingles and see when you’ll have to purchase a new roof or carry out major repairs. 

Under Texas climate conditions, standard three-tab shingle roofs may last 15 years at best whereas high-end shingles may go up to 25. Metal roofs may last for as long as 50 years.

What Do You Need to Know About the Roof Before Buying a Home?

You’ll need the following documents to make a proper decision:
  • A home inspection report
  • A roof inspection certificate issued by a licensed, professional roof inspector
  • A report of estimated upcoming costs for repairs
  • Necessary documentation issued by the homeowners containing information regarding the roof maintenance and repairs they’ve carried out.
  • Documentation of valid and transferrable roof warranties

How Much Will Roof Inspection Cost?

On average, a roof inspection will set you back by a few hundred dollars and a comprehensive home inspection report will cost you $500 - $700. However, keep in mind that it’s a worthwhile investment since any unreported damage will leave you poorer by thousands of dollars in repairs or replacements. Better safe than sorry!

How to Choose a Home Inspector and Roofing Contractor

  • Ensure they have the necessary qualifications and credentials to inspect roofs and homes.
  • Review sample reports issued by them. It ought to be between 20 – 50 pages long and contain quality images of the house. 
  • Don’t go with inspectors who also perform home repairs or recommend contractors – that’s a major conflict of interest.
  • Talk to their previous clients and see whether they were satisfied with the quality of their inspection reports. You can also ask your friends and family members for recommendations if they bought a home recently as well. 
  • Ask them how long their inspection process will take. A comprehensive home inspection generally takes between 2 to 3 hours. Anyone taking less is just not inspecting everything in the house.
  • Be in the house during the home inspection process.

Why Do You Need a Roof Certificate as Well as a Home Inspection?


Home inspections don’t reveal every little detail regarding the roof’s health. Home inspectors may miss out on certain warning signs, which can lead to highly expensive repairs if you’re not alerted to their existence. A comprehensive roof inspection will help you know how much you’ll have to spend on repairs or replacements, which you can use to bring the asking price down. 

Additionally, home inspectors aren’t legally required to go out of their way while conducting their inspection. Most of them tend to do a rudimentary roof inspection with their binoculars from the ground, which does not reveal the full picture.

You can have an in-depth and thorough assessment of your roof’s quality by engaging the services of a certified and licensed roofing contractor, who will issue a separate roofing certificate, which will include the following details:

  • Whether there are any movements on the roof
  • The quality of the caps, drip edges, and ridges
  • The quality of the flashing around HVAC mountings, chimneys, valleys, pipes, and roof vents
  • The quality of the roofing shingles and the roof
  • An estimate of the roof’s remaining lifespan
  • Estimation of any repairs that need to be done
  • The performance of the roof’s downspouts, gutters, and drains
  • Whether the warranty offered by the existing manufacturer is still valid
  • Verify that important emergency repairs and routine maintenance were carried out on time

If the roof doesn’t need any new repairs, the inspector will issue a certificate that’s valid for 2 – 5 years. But if it does need repairs, the certificate won’t be issued until it is complete.

You need to go through the roof certificate and home inspection report with a great amount of care. Many people simply browse through the summary and miss out on things that may seem minute at first. Certain roof certificates also come with a warranty – make sure your certificate has one as well.

Conclusion

Buying a house is a stressful task. With a million things to take care of, it’s very common for people to forget to carry out important inspections that could have saved a ton of money, had they been done on time. 

By engaging the services of a certified professional to inspect your home and roof, you’ll no longer need to worry incessantly about new unwanted surprises popping up. A little bit of planning and engaging the services of the right professional can save you thousands of dollars and immense heartache in the long run, thus sweetening the experience of buying a home. 

Contact Us to Schedule Your Roof Inspection

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Roofing Repairs From leaky roofs to outright holes to dilapidation, your roof may be riddled with any number of issues requiring repair. What’s more, those issues are only bound to grow worse with time. As such, when you have a roofing problem on your hands that needs repairing, the last thing you’re going to want to be told is that you’ll have to wait. Thankfully, the best roofers in the Naples area have you covered with fast and effective repair services. Simply call, state the nature of your roofing repair needs, and they’ll be by as soon as possible to effect the repairs you need when you need them most. Among the most common types or roof problems that can be fixed by Naples’s best roofing repair experts are: • Cracked, chipped, degraded, or missing roofing tiles • Crumbling chimneys • Leaky roofs • Insulation issues • Clogged or warped gutters and resultant foul odor • Water damage • Mold and similar conditions caused and exacerbated by moisture and humidity Whatever your particular roofing issue may be, working with a top rated contractor in Naples is the smartest way to quickly diagnose, isolate, and redress the issue in a quick and timely fashion. General Roof Cleaning and Maintenance Of course, the easiest way to avoid those roofing problems in the first place is to make sure that your roof is well cared for and looked after in the first place. That means ensuring that it is subject to regular maintenance and that the gutters and other areas are regularly cleared of debris. Unfortunately, as Shakespeare so rightly put it, “If to do were easy as to know what where good to do,” the world would be a very different place. Sure, you know how important it is to clean and perform regular maintenance work on your roof but that doesn’t make the task any more appealing. The best roofers in Naples, FL allow you to have these jobs done and done well without your having to do them yourself. They can clean out your gutters, keeping them fresh and debris- and odor-free. In addition, they can give your whole roof a once-over, cleaning it from end to end. Not only is this vital from an aesthetic standpoint but it is also critical for ensuring that your roof remains free of the kind of grout or mold buildups that can build up over time and cause problems for your roof’s tiling and structural integrity. Installing Insulation One of the most important aspects of any roof is the insulation that helps keep it dry and free of leaks. That said, even the best roofing insulation can break down over time. That’s why you’ll want to turn to roofing experts in Naples for all your roof insulation needs. They will inspect your roof, ascertain the weak points in your insulation, and repair or replace them in short order. Installing a New Roof Having a new roof installed can be a great way of adding value to your property and ensuring the security of your home for years to come. When you choose to get a new roof with Naples’s best roofing team, you’ll be able to work with a team of roofers and consultants. They will show you the latest shingles and roofing styles on the market, empowering you to make the best choice for your property’s short- and long-term prosperity. Once you’ve made your choice, it’s time to get your new roof installed. Of course, for as important as having a solid roof over your head may be, you hardly want it to come at the cost of incessant hammering and sawing for weeks on end. What’s more, you certainly don’t want to have to delay construction because you’re not at home or have it keeping you and the neighbors awake early or late in the day. That’s why the best roofing experts in Naples not only offer the quickest turnaround times of any team in the area but likewise accommodate flexible booking, allowing you to have your roof installed your way and around your busy schedule. Commercial Roofing If you own a business, your roof requires special attention, though you likely don’t have the time to spare to see to it yourself. That’s why the best roofers in the Naples area are able to perform installations, repairs, and general maintenance for all your commercial roofing needs. What’s more, they understand that time is money and so will work around your company’s schedule to get the job done while remaining as quick and unobtrusive as possible. Affordable Rates No one should ever feel as though he or she can’t afford a safe, attractive roof. That’s why the best roofers Naples, FL has can boast affordable rates for all services for commercial as well as domestic services. Experience on Your Side When it comes to something as important as getting your roofing needs addressed, you always want to make sure that you’re working with a roofing contractor that you can trust. That’s why the top roofing experts for maintenance, installations, and repairs for commercial as well as domestic clients area are proud to be able to point to decades of dedicated service and satisfied clients. So who should you hire for your roofing needs? A team that can address them all the right way with the best comprehensive roofing services in the Naples area.

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