This is a fiberglass asphalt shingle roof, consisting of only 1 layer. It was inspected from the ground with the use of binoculars. There are no signs of damage from wind, or trees. All shingles are in place, none are missing, the overall condition is good at the day & time of inspection. I advise the homeowner to keep gutters clean & free from debris & that all downspouts be kept in place to give proper water drainage away from the home.
Its a good reminder to look for sings of rodent’s, and other pests when doing a roof inspection. As the article on bats is a good reminder of how small of an opening they can get into. So when in the attic looking around don’t forget to keep a sharp eye for any signs of unwanted inhabitants, as they can be a health risk to anyone living in the residence…
The attached pictures are of a shingle roof that has some defects.
The Valley has debris in it preventing proper drainage.
The shingles are uneven showing that there is blistering created by non venting of the attic.
There is a 45 degree angle of deflection in the shingles that may have been created by issues with the substrate decking
The flashing is lacking or improperly installed around the roof vents.
The guide for asphalt shingle inspections go far beyond the requirements of the inspection process.
It goes in depth to the manufacture of shingles process and the issues that can result in handling of the shingles prior to installation. This information gives a great introspect into what makes up the shingle.
This give a much better look at what the issues are that can cause shingle issues and failures.
The guide walks through the issues that lead up to failures not just the failure itself.
This photo shows roof moss which may be damaging the roof and leading to leaks. It also shows that the roof is probably old and near the end of its life expectancy. Replacement of the shingles will likely be needed soon. We recommend having an experienced professional roofer inspect and re-roof or repair as necessary.
I did an inspection on a house with three tab asphalt shingles. There was only on layer of shingles on the roof. The shingles show a lot of wear and are near the end of the normal wear cycle. You can see the mat on the ends of the shingles and on some the mat is showing in the middle of the shingle.
Inspecting bathroom ventilation and fans.
I read the article about bathroom ventilation. It is important to make sure there are no signs of excessive moisture in the bathroom or in the attic where the fan may discharge. It is important to make sure the ductwork is all secure and ends outside.
Attic pull down ladders.
I also read the article in reference to attic pull down ladders. It is important to inspect for proper installation. Homeowners and not professionals install many ladders. You must check for use of proper fasteners and the appropriate amount. There are times when people will cut through the truss and weaken the roof system when installing attic ladders.
Inspecting Asphalt Shingle Roof Course:
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Since a full residential asphalt shingle roof was not available for me to inspect, I chose to inspect a neighbor’s home which has a wood shake roof.
The roof material is in disrepair in several sections and has many shake panels which are cracked completely through or loose. I recommend having a licensed roofer offer a proper roof inspection and certification to determine the proper repair or replacement.
Eric J Kosinski
Inspecting Asphalt Shingle Roof Course:
Reading & Writing Assignment 1:
Mastering Roof Inspections, Accessing the roof:
In the article, there is a discussion about the dangers of steep pitch roofs, but also how low pitch roofs can be equally as dangerous if not maintained. I consider myself especially careful, however recently, while walking a metal roof, had slipped and lost footing. I was lucky to be able to correct the footing and continue the inspection. It was a very low pitch roof and seemed very safe from access points. This article reminded me of the dangers and how to be careful during all points of inspections on all roofs, regardless of pitch.
Eric J Kosinski
Inspecting Asphalt Shingle Roof Course:
Reading & Writing Assignment 2:
Mastering Roof Inspections: Pests
The Pests article is an interesting read as while studying the roofing components and inspection course, I didn’t think much of pests. After having a scare while inspecting my personal property with what I thought were bats, but were in fact chimney swift birds, I researched info about bats. If bats exist in a property or roof, they are extremely difficult to get rid of permanently. There droppings which are called bat guano is toxic and can cause long term respiratory problems.
Eric J Kosinski
For this writing assignment, I read “Cool” Energy-Efficient Roofs and H-Clips for Inspectors.
Cool roofs or reflective roofs are designed to reflect heat from the sun and thus reduce the amount of heat transfer into the building. Cool roof products increase the life of roofing materials. Some reflective roofing products can reduce the temperature of roofs by as much as 100 degrees and thereby reduce energy costs. There are 3 main types: Coatings, which can be applied by the factory or applied in the field; single ply membrane which is laid down over the roof surface, and asphalt shingles which are actually dark colored shingles that have been manufactured with engineered pigments which reflect high amounts of infrared.
H-clips or panel-edge clips are small steel devices which are used with roof sheathing to provide edge support. H-clips can reduce the cost for builders because they increase panel stiffness which in turn allows for less material to be used. Because these clips make the edges of the panels stronger, builders can use thinner sheathing and also fewer rafters because the spacing between them can be increased. Not all jurisdictions require H-clips but they do provide a safer installation.
I inspected a home that had dimensional asphalt shingles. The shingles were installed on a home with a 12/12 pitch. The home had one layer of shingles installed and the shingles sampled were properly bonded. A few cracks were noted on the report. These cracks were observed on the southern exposure which may be the result of thermal splitting.
For the reading portion of this course, I read the article, How to Clean Algae and Moss Off Asphalt Shingles by Michael Chotiner. This problem is prevalent in my region due to high humidifies and its often concerning to homeowners. Removing Moss and Algae can be accomplished with a bleach and water solution and a brush with medium stiffness. Its is important to be very safe on a by using personal protection equipment and using shoes with non-skid soles.
I also read the article, Mastering Roof Inspections: Asphalt Composition Shingles, Part 1 by Kenton Shepard and Nick Gromicko. This is the first in a series of articles to compliment this course. The first article is interesting in that it shows the composition of the shingle mat, which is rarely seen due to the manufacturing process.
This image shows mechanical damage to the asphalt shingles and roof sheathing at the east slope of a residential building. It appears that the damage was caused by a tree limb falling from a large, overhanging tree at the east side of the property. While the area of damage is outside of the living space, and over the east soffit, this area should be repaired as soon as possible to prevent further storm water intrusion and/or vermin entry.
Vertical and horizontal crazing was observed at the south and west slope asphalt shingles, with a significant amount of mat deterioration and granule loss at the south slope.
These pictures are taken of a asphalt shingle roof. These appears to be 3 tab shingles. One of the pictures shows the drip edge at the eave. In the other picture you can see a close valley with metal flashing underneath.
Reading and Writing Assignment #1
Mastering Roof Inspections: Asphalt Composition Shingles Part 1
Modern asphalt composition shingles are constructed of a fibreglass mat imbedded in asphalt, and covered with a layer of granules at the top surface of the shingle (the surface area exposed to the weather).
Fibreglass mat shingles are more resistant to heat and moisture than organic shingles and will deform less than organic shingles as they age.
Reading and Writing Assignment #2
Mastering Roof Inspections: Attic Area Roof Inspection
The areas where potential problems were observed at the exterior roof should be reviewed at the attic area. Look for daylight at roof penetrations, staining and rot at the roof sheathing, or evidence of ongoing storm water intrusion, and improper shingle fastening. A moisture meter is beneficial to determine if excessive moisture is present at the roof sheathing or structure.
Kickout Flashing
Kickout Flashing is flashing that diverts rainwater away from the cladding and into the gutters. Potential problems include flashing not installed properly. If the bottom is not sealed tight, then it will not be waterproof and water can leak behind the flashing. Also sometimes homeowners modify the flashing because it can be an eye sore. Locations for kickout flashing include: anywhere a roof meets an exterior wall and where walls continue past lower roof edge and gutters.
FHA Loan Basics
An FHA loan is a federal assistance mortgage loan offered by qualified lenders and backed by the Federal Housing Administration. Pros of the loan include low down payments, low closing costs, ability to use “gifts”, and easier to qualify for credit. Some downsides to the loan include lower loan amounts, limited options, and PMI insurance.
This photo is from a recently inspected asphalt shingle roof. The shingles are of the three-tab variety, and are at least 10 years old, but probably older. As can be seen in the photo, there is a lot of superficial damage along the bottom edges of the shingles, and some loss of aggregate from the exposed surface. Taken alone, these can be considered cosmetic damage, but edge damage does suggest the shingles have become brittle and may be nearing the end of their useful life. There are several splits elsewhere on the roof that support this assessment.
Reading/Writing Assignment:
How to Determine the Age of a Building
There are many ways to determine the approximate age of a building. These range from the types of nail used (square or round) and the types of electrical outlets and wiring found (grounded, polarized, non-polarized), through to materials used to frame and finish the building. Different techniques and materials were used in specific eras. Together with the style of architecture, these clues can make it easier to estimate the age of a building.
Ice Dams
Ice dams form in the wintertime in northern climates. Snow cover on warmer parts of the upper roof melt and run down to the colder eaves, where it re-freezes, forming a dam which can allow additional runoff from above to back up under shingles and into the house, causing water damage or mold problems. The primary cause is inadequate insulation or air leaks from the heated areas of the home into the attic, creating a warm roof that melts snow.
The best solution to the problem is improving the insulation, sealing air leaks, and making sure the roof is well-ventilated.
Date: 1-14-16
InterNACHI 120-Hour ONLINE Pre-Licensing Course
Member # NACHI 1512501
Inspection & Writing Assignment for Course: Inspecting Asphalt Shingle Roofs
Subject: Abbreviated Asphalt Shingle Roof Inspection
Client: InterNACHI
Location of Home: Students Home
Particulars:
- Home is single story built in 1984, located in North Florida.
- Primary Roof has Architectural Asphalt Shingle Surface
- Roof has both open and closed valleys.
- Eaves have Gutters with downspouts
- Chimney is manufactured type.
- Inspected by walking the roof surface.
- Did not have thickness gauge to check shingle gauge.
Inspection Notes:
• Roof pitch is .27 and slope is 6:12.
• Checked shingle adhesion and found no issues.
• Checked underlayment and found a single layer.
• Check and found one layer of laminate Fiberglass Shingles.
• Rakes have drip edge (edge flashing)
• No observable roof surface depressions, swales, or vertical offsets.
• Apron, backer, step, and counter flashing observed at roof turbine ventilators, skylights, and chimney.
• Observed 3 locations with one exposed fastener, one raised and punctured upper shingle others exposed with rusted heads
• Found scuffing on Shingles located at the Front gable, granule surfacing removed but not tears in shingle.
• Appears that the Rear Section of Roof over the Sun Room was installed before the roof over main house foot print. Found greater granule loss on shingle.
• Found Mechanical damage to the roof over the Sun Room near skylights. Damage removed the granule surfacing and part of the asphalt but not the mat and did not observe cracks through shingles.
• Found some blistering on the roofing over the Sun Room near the skylight nearest the Chimney.
• No soft spots found in roof support while walking on the roofing system.
• Accessed attic and did not observe a significant number of exposed fasteners through sheathing.
• Roof structure has truss type supports.
• No observable signs of water intrusion through sheathing.
• No damage observed to truss or any modifications.
• Found Biological discoloration and small patch of algae on the East Eave near the Chimney.
Summary:
Recommend that a Licensed Roofing Contractor:
• Inspect the roofing over the Sun Room be inspected due to aging and damage.
• Address the exposed fasteners found in the roofing.
• Clean the roof where the moss and discolorations were observed.
