The roof above your head is an important element of your home's structure and protection, and even a small leak due to a gap around the chimney can lead to thousands of dollars in damage. So when you are looking to buy a home with a sound roof, there are some essential steps you need to take to ensure it is watertight and in good shape. Here are some recommendations for you to follow to ensure your new home's roof is sound or receives the attention and repairs it needs to correct any age and storm-related damage.
Look For Signs of Storm Damage
When you first tour through a home, you have an opportunity to check out the home's interior and exterior with a visual inspection. As you do your own looking-over of the home, take some time to look at the ceilings within the home for any water stains. A water leak that may have occurred inside the home will stain the paint and the drywall behind it.
Look at the roof from the back or front yard to see if you can find any signs of peeling up of the edges of any shingles. You might also notice shingles that are a slightly different color than the surrounding shingles that may indicate shingles have blown off in the past during a heavy wind storm and were replaced later on. Then, look for signs of missing or torn shingles on the roof.
If you have an opportunity, also take a peek into the attic space of the home. This will give you an opportunity to see if any water stains are visible that have originated from the roof. Switch off your flashlight and look for any signs of daylight shining through the attic walls or roof, indicating roof damage.
Hire a Roof Inspection
A recommended option to fully check a home's roof is to hire a professional roof inspection. Your roof professional will get upon the home's roof to check the roof's shingles, flashing, drip edging, and vent openings of any damage and signs of wear. They can also complete an up-close check the condition of your shingles for any hail damage, which will appear as small dents within the shingles.
Your roofing professional can also check the roof's gutter system. A fully-functioning gutter will drain the home's roof properly during a storm to prevent moisture damage that can occur in the basement or crawlspace of the home.
Talk to the roofing professional about recommendations for any needed repairs to the home. You can get an estimate of the work from the roofing professional and negotiate for the repairs to be adjusted into the home's purchase price or for the seller to repair the needed items.
Contact roofers in your area to learn more about storm damage roof repairs.