Lifting shingles were noted on the rear slope of the roof, close to the chimney. This can cause water intrusion in the attic and lead to a series of problems and damages to the house, like mold growth. We recommend having a roof especialist evaluate the whole house roof system for repairs/replacement at this time.
This is where the garage roof meets the siding of the second story. There is no visible step flashing installed. It appears that the roofers simply applied roofing cement along the siding and roof. The roofing cement is a temporary sealant and it is now showing signs of cracking and deterioration. Eventually, water will penetrate through the cracks and cause damage to the roof deck and wall sheathing.
Fall-Arrest Systems:
Working on a roof has the obvious danger of falling off of the roof, whether it be from simply not paying attention to how close to the edge you are, or slipping on wet roof. Fall-arrest systems, when used properly can help you avoid serious injury or even death. There are several components to the system. The first is the anchor point, which can either be a permanent or temporary installation. The second is the restraint, which is the rope that connects between the anchor point and the lanyard, which is typically installed with a shock absorber to help cushion a fall. And last is the harness that is worn by the worker. One thing to be careful of when using a fall-arrest system is that the ropes used are more like a pipe than a rope when you step on them.
OSB vs. Plywood:
OSB and plywood are both made by compressing wood and glue together to make the sheet. OSB is made from wood strands that are pressed together, whereas plywood is made from veneers that are glued and pressed together. OSB is a more uniform product, but it is more susceptible to water damage and fasteners are more likely to pull out. In flooring, plywood provides a stiffer floor. Many builders prefer one to the other for various reasons.
I have attached three (3) pictures from a roof inspection. One picture shows flashing that is raised up separating from the roof and is a possible point of moisture intrusion. You can see my ink pen sticking under the edge of the flashing. The next picture shows a nail head or fastener that is working through the roof covering. The final picture shows the lack of drip edge on the gable ends and we found it was not installed on the eaves either.
Although, roof obstructions were not covered in this training class I think it is important to comment on. This particular house and garage had extensive shingle damage from tree branches that had been rubbing on he roof. I could find no moisture damage on the underside, but I figure it is just a matter of time before it does happen given the amount of shingle wear from tree branch contact.
The attached photos show the roof structure of a condo in Virginia and a closed valley on that roof. The shingles are laminated asphalt, architectural shingles and the roof is approximately 10 years old. It is in good shape and shows little signs of wear. The roof is well constructed and I verified the presence of properly installed self-adhering underlayment and drip edge flashing at all rakes and eves.
For the reading part of the assignment of the class I read “Mastering Roof Inspections: Accessing the Roof, Part 1 and Part 2”. I plan to continue with this series of articles until I have read them all.
This picture shows a severe ridge sag of approximately 4 inches end to end. No attic access was allowed the day of inspection- it was a fresh remodel and had numerous interior drywall cracks. The client was shocked and ended up not buying the home for this and several other reasons. The seller was furious, he bought the house to flip and never thought about the Inspection day. He calmed down and finally asked what needed to be done to fix the issues. He should have thought about that before he remodeled the inside and out. Last I heard he moved into the house.
The attached photos show the roof structure of a house I inspected in KS. The shingles are laminated asphalt, architectural shingles. The entire roof was shot. The roof was also very wavy and all the flashing was deteriorated. The roofer laid the asphalt shingles over the existing cedar shake shingles.
For the reading part of the assignment of the class I read "Mastering Roof Inspections: Roof styles and Part 1". It was a good refresher on different types of roof layouts, Hip, Gable, Mansard, Flat, Shed, Gambrel, Bonnett, & Butterfly.
Off to discover the ten steps.
jamie
“10 Steps to Performing a Roof Inspection” required reading:
1 - “Mastering Roof Inspections: Flashing, Part 1”
Flashing is designed to prevent water penetration of the roof system. Home Inspectors try to confirm that flashing is installed in a way that prevents moisture entry, and that flashing is not corroded. Galvanized steel is the most common flashing material.
2 - “Mastering Roof Inspections: Flashing, Part 2”
A headwall is a level junction where a roof meets a wall. Headwall flashing should extend up and behind the exterior wall covering and down over the roof covering material. A sidewall is a junction between a wall and a sloped portion of a roof. The vertical part of the sidewall flashing should extend up and behind the exterior wall covering. The horizontal part will vary, depending on the type of roof-covering material. Step-flashing is common.
Although many homes in this area do not, this home had drip edge flashing. Drip edge flashing provides support to the shingles, reducing curling and cracking. It also helps prevent rainwater from getting behind the gutters and causing rot to the fascia boards. Roofers often do not installed drip edge flashing, leaving the shingles extra long so that they will sag down into the gutters. This will eventually weaken the shingles, and can cause cascading rainwater to “overshoot” the gutters.
The roof was covered in snow which prevented inspection of the roof covering material. From the eave accessed by a ladder, I was able to determine that the roof covering, where viewed, is one layer of asphalt dimensional shingles. There is factory colored steel drip edge. Ice and water shield is present on lower eave. The gutter is full of debris, is frozen and not draining at this time. The chimney cap and top courses of brick are in need of repair to prevent further damage and water penetration into the building envelope.
This picture was taken from a roof that was in dire need of help. The first item that I came across was loose and bad flashing on the first tier of the roof along with much granule loss. This one problem here created a bad moisture intrusion problem that caused much damage to the interior . The second problem was too much shingle overhang, there was a half an inch of overhang shooting over the gutters. As I walked along the roof I found loose shingles,loose nails and one section with exposed underlayment. This was an ideal roof for a learning experience.
Roof was not walked due to high slope and frost. Roof covering has a 1st layer of 3 tab shingles, partially covered by a 2nd layer of single or no-tab shingles. The 2nd layer was never completed and 2x4s are nailed into the roof above the 2nd layer. Water and snow can build up behind the 2x4s and seep under the shingles, possibly causing leaks. In addition, the flashing along the skylights is undeterminable due to the shingles curling up the sides of the skylight curbs.
Recommend evaluation and any necessary correction by a qualified roofing specialist.
copyright 2016 P. Burnham
Library Articles:
Mastering Roof Inspections: Accessing the Roof, Part I - In this part of a multipart series, the article outlines the risk tolerance and safety concerns about walking roofs. It also discusses some conditions and roof pitches that should not be walked.
Mastering Roof Inspections: Accessing the Roof, Part II - This article again outlines some safety concerns and exposure involved in walking roofs for inspections. Alternatives to walking a roof include accessing from the eaves, or using cameras mounted to extendable poles.
This roof had previous water damage. The upper roof was flat so the owner had constructed a sloped roof over top of the previously leaking roof to allow for proper drainage. The underlayment obviously was installed incorrectly in a failed attempt to sell the property. We recommended the seller contact a licensed roofer in the area to correct the roofing mistakes.
Required articles:
**Mastering Roof Inspections: Personal Protective Equipment:
**
Personal Protective Equipment while inspecting a roof is not only a wise idea for protecting the integrity of the roof but also for the safety of the Inspector. Icy spots, wet spots and damage areas all pose a threat to the safety of the Inspector. Be wise practice safe inspecting.
Mastering Roof Inspections: Photography:
The good photograph quality of the roof inspection are essential. Not only is the buyer relying on the inspector being the eyes on the roof for him, the seller may be unaware of any damages. Be smart, take your time, take good pics.
This picture was of a sub standard roof repair. this contractor used a piece of apron metal or Florida flashing on top of the metal and outside of the siding. In this application for this type of metal to actually work it first of all needs to be under the metal and over the underlayment, secondly this contractor caulked the metal to the outside of the siding. It needs to be behind the siding. In no way was the a standard practice. Relying on silicone only to keep water out of the home was a substandard practice. This was a conducive environment for wood destroying organisms, and this could also allow water to enter thru the roofing system and could cause fungal rot along with mold and possible structural damage. This could also mean that the rest of the roof was installed by the same contractor and I recomend that a roofing contractor do a complete inspection and do standard repairs or complete replacement.
Starting. Thanks!