When inspecting concrete roofs, it is advisable to walk gently and spread your weight between both feet as much as possible to avoid causing damage to a customer’s roof. Another way would be to move the ladder around the perimeter of the home.
The image below is from a curved style concrete tile roof that I inspected. I did walk on the roof but I inspected from the eaves with my camera. There was a broken tile near the sidewall probably from a impact from a falling object. The leak was also visible in the attic that show signs of moisture intrusion on the attic ceiling.
My research exercise is on the article “Wind Mitigation.” Wind mitigation in a house is established by configuring the house to meet certain requirements that make the house less vulnerable to wind damage. Some insurance companies have included discount in their policy to homeowners who meet wind mitigation requirements. Techniques that are used in the process of wind mitigation include strong durable garages, windows with impact resistant glass, wind resistant roof coverings, and a strong roof deck sheathing.
The attached picture is of clay roofing tiles and I had to get it off an eBay suppliers webpage since I do not have any tile roofs around me. The picture shows how the tabs located on the ends line up to allow for them to interlock. When the tiles interlock, it helps protect against rain and helps drainage. The hip tiles work in the very similar fashion when interlocking.
I chose to read the article on IR Cameras and how they can be used to help inspect a roof. I found this article very interesting because I have used IR cameras in the past and never thought of how I could use them in other applications. The article suggests that using an IR camera can help locate moisture intrusion and wet insulation. This is very helpful because it can allow you to cover a large area more quickly. IR cameras should not be relied on to do the whole roof inspection but they are definitely a big help.
The attached picture describes an example of a concrete tile which has been crack. This type of crack looks to have been caused by foot traffic. It is recommended to remove and replace the cracked tile, repairing will not be acceptable due to the extent of the damage.
An alternative roof from the typical asphalt shingle or tile roof is a “cool” roof. Cool roofs are energy star rated due to the energy savings it creates from its reflective abilities. The cooling during the summer months savings out-weigh the minimal heat cost increase during the winter months.
The picture I took looks like a tile roof.Most tiles are 3/8in or 1/2in interlocking tiles.The Rig cap looks funtionable for drainage and I don’t see any damage.Its siclon to seal the edging and the close valley draining system.I see signs of moisture due to the biological growth on tile,and a few crack tiles.The off-set pattern is correct.Pressure washing can remove biological growth.
Save money and energy in your home
Drastic reduction energy saving can be easily accomplished by making small changes in your every day life.Changes like change your light bulbs,seal and insulate,install or upgrade your hot water heater.Find ways to cool and heat the house like install a ceiling fans in room,so you don’t have to keep hvac temperature high.Thats how simple it is to save money and energy.
Here we have a typical concrete tile roof installed in Florida. Visual inspection reveals birdstops with weep holes so the starter row was properly supported to fall in line with the field. The cap tiles appear to be mortared in place, so being a wind zone, Im going to look for failed bonding. There are also penetrations that will require proper flashing and this will be looked at closer during the inspection.
Cool: Energy Efficient Roofs,
This article discussed the benefits of a roof material that reflects the suns heat and UV up to 10 times more efficiently then current roofing materials. This efficiency scale is from 0 to 1, with 1 being the most reflective. Currently an Energy Efficient roof falls in the range of .65 with a max depreciation to .5 after 3 years. Where as a typical roof is somewhere around .06 to .26. This could be upwards of a 100 degree difference in surface temperatures on the roof which avoiding that kind of heat can have all kinds of financial savings benefits.
Home Inspectors are not required to walk roofs that they deem unsafe or if their actions would damage the integrity of the roofing components. If a Home Inspector decides that walking a roof is necessary, extreme caution should be taken. Each step should be placed on the butt of the tile where the tiles overlap. Do not step in the middle of the tile because this part is un-supported. Many roofs can be be examined from a safe position on a ladder with cameras mounted on extension poles. Obviously, the Inspector will need to clarify the method of examination for this component.
Mastering Roof Inspections: Tile Roofs, Part 1
Many high profile tiles including barrel tiles should have the open ends along the eaves capped (with a small opening for ventilation) to help prevent birds and insects from entering the space under the tile. These caps beneath the start course are called birdstops and they also help to prevent the wind from entering the void between the tiles and the underlayment.
Tiles that crack at the bottom right hand corner can be a mystery to some homeowners. Often mistaken as hail or impact damage, this type of cracking is often found due to the characteristics of tile roofs. The weakest part of the interlocking tile, is the bottom right hand corner. The headlap on tiles should be a minimum of 3 inches, so if the crack is less than 3 inches, the piece can be sealed back in place.
The article on defensible space doesn’t state anything about roofing materials required. But in previous classes I have taken, multiple instructors have said that requiring concrete or clay tiles in areas where wildfires are prevalent is becoming a more common practice.
This is a picture of a tile roof. I wasn’t able to walk it but just what I could observe from the ground it seems there’s some discoloration in the center from typical aging, also there has been repairs made because of the 2 tiles top center that don’t match.
This essay is about the dangers of calling yourself an expert. I never really thought of all the dangers that come along with making this claim. especially about judges holding you to a higher standard in court. Also breech of contract and warranty claims.
The image I have selected is that of a repair on an open roof valley. It was determined that the tile had been not held back enough,creating excessive debris build up, inhibiting proper drainage flow. Also, the valley metal was punctured with fastener holes and was going to be replaced with ice and water shield and new copper.
The photo from the image gallery I have selected was that of a tile roof and its proper installation. I paid close attention to the interlocking, flashing details along headwalls, sidewalls and skylights. The images indicated no deficiencies and appeared to be a professional installation
Living my entire life in Tennessee, I have not been exposed to many clay or concrete tile roofs. This course has helped me learn to identify different types of tile and their advantages and disadvantages. Considering I will be moving my business from Tennessee to Florida, this has been one of the most educational courses I’ve taken so far.
