What Is A Roof Inspection?
Updated: Jan 30
A roof is one of the biggest if not the biggest systems that your home or building has. It protects the inside of your home from the different weather conditions like rain, ice, and snow. Without a roof your home would not be a very pleasant place to live.
Each year you should have your home’s roof inspected as part of your annual home maintenance plan. **We do not advise anyone who is untrained to climb ladders to access the roof nor do we advise anyone who is untrained to walk on any roof surface! It is best practice to hire a certified professional home inspector to inspect any roof**. A roof inspection can be a stand-alone service or part of a home or annual maintenance inspection. When you hire a certified home inspector you are hiring a professional who is trained to observe the current condition of the roof including the different components that collectively make up the roofing system. A certified inspector will provide you with a detailed report of his/her observations along with recommendations for corrective actions.
What Does An Inspector Look At?
There are several components that make up the roofing system. This is not a technically exhaustive inspection or list. Rather it is a comprehensive examination of the roof in general. According to the Florida home inspection standard of practice an inspector is not required to walk on any roof surface when, in the opinion of the inspector, the following conditions exist:
The roof slope is excessive to safely walk on
There is no safe access to the roof
Climatic conditions render the roof unsafe to walk on
Condition of the roof material or roof decking renders the roof unsafe to walk on
Walking on the roof may cause damage to the roof covering materials
Walking will place any liability or danger to the homeowner or other representatives involved in the home inspection process
According to the Florida home inspection standard of practice an inspector shall inspect all of the visible and readily accessible roof covering systems and components. A home inspector is not required to inspect: