My essay will be on Roofing, It seems to me that the difference between a good and bad home inspection is based on how well we are able to evaluate a roof. It has been my experience (and yes I have less than 1 year) that Inspectors want to get out of evaluating a roof and pass it along for a further evaluation. I have tried to do a little more especially when I can clearly see that the shingles are beyond repair and need to be replaced. I have also explained to my clients the problems with double layered roofs and have experienced soft sheathing as a result. I think more info is needed and I am going to take every one of the roofing classes. By the way my dad was a Firefighter and Roofer and Ive been packing shingles since 1982 that OSHA stuff is funny
Prior roof shingle repairs observed; During the inspection the SW second story valley indicated a repair patch was installed. The repair patch indicated it’s success would be temporary. The waterproof patch was placed under shingles at it’s top, but is nailed flush on top of the shingles along the patch sides. Roof material is multi-layered. Recommend further evaluation by a licensed contractor to determine the full scope of proper repairs or replacement.
Image of Ice Barrier; An important addition to northern roof replacement is the placement of Ice Barrier’s. Ice damming is a occurrence that will definitely occur given the right circumstances. When installed, one must continue the barrier 24", measured horizontally, above the roof/wall seam.
Inspector should describe the procedures of performing a wind and hail damage inspection at a residential property and the components included in the inspection.
Inspector should describe the types of hail damage found at a typical insurance inspection and communicate observations to a client.
Inspector should describe the procedures of performing a wind and hail damage inspection at a residential property and the components included in the inspection.
Inspector should describe the types of hail damage found at a typical insurance inspection and communicate observations to a client.
For this particular essay I looked into a new roof that was installed at a recent inspection. The exterior of the inspection came through fine, although inside the attack, a framing member was cracked and this was pointed out in the report.
For this particular essay I looked into roofs and optimal growth conditions for mold inside the attic. I looked into the gable portion of the home and how important it is for those to be properly vented. If blocked they can be a source mold growth.
The picture illustrates a severely hail damaged roof. This inspection was easy with its random pattern and granules removed. This roofs damage was a few months old and the granules were washed away. This one was a no brainer. You could see this from the ground.
Inspecting Roof Panel Sheathing article showed the span for the different thicknesses of sheathing. Staggering the seams strengthen the structure and running the grain perpendicular to the framing is essential. The spacing of the nails according to the wind in a particular area is a must also.
It is important for the inspector to walk every roof regardless of the presence of hail damage or not. Roof jackboots can weather and rot and will allow water to drip inside the wall of the home. This could be the starting place for mold.
About 20 years ago I was an HOA manager is Anchorage Alaska. One of my biggest problems in the winter was ice dams. We would cut them open with steam wands and watch the water pour out. That was about all we could do in the winter but come summer er would take of the lower part of the roof and add water barriers.
Fall Protection Arrestors are mandatory per OSHA when you are a worker working above 6 feet above the ground. The Harness system is anchored 1 per anchor as a fall safety PPE. This will save the workers life in the event of a slip and fall.
Hail Functional Damage (Storm Damage) vs Mechanical Damage (Old age), Hail damage is damaged derived by a hail storm it is noted by dents and bruising hail damage is covered by homeowners insurance as it affects the functionality of the roof system. Mechanical damage is natural aging or the natural decomposition of roof system over time which is not covered by homeowners insurance.
The picture depicts a very damaged roof due to hail. The impacts are both deep and numerous.
This type of damage is for sure eligible for replacement on the insurance company behalf, and begins with a report and request for change. After the request is made, an inspector goes to the house, take pictures of the damaged roof, make a quantitative evaluation of the impacts per 10 sqft and the process follows from that point.
I read the article named “Mastering Roof Inspections: Hail Damage, Part 1” and I got shocked knowing that wind & hail produces an estimate of 1 billion dollars of damage per year.
With that amount of yearly damage, there should be many and powerful contractors dedicated just to satisfy the quantity of repair work, and because of the magnitude of the business, should be supervised very closely.
Wind Damage is the most obvious type of damage to identify. However, typically are an excellent indicator of storm damage. Hail Damage is quite a bit more difficult to identify than wind damage. This is mainly because wind damage displaces exterior components of the home, while hail simply impacts those components, affecting the lifespan, warranty, and functionality of the exterior component (Shingle, Siding, Gutters, etc.).
Granule Loss to Shingles: Massive granule loss from your shingles is a fair indicator of hail damage to your property. You may notice grains of asphalt rock on your back deck, or driveway, or coming out of your downspouts after a storm. Shingles are designed to lose granules during inclement weather, but when an abundance of granules comes off during a weather event, its better to be safe and have your roof inspected for further insight.
During an inspection in Syracuse I noted that most of the asphalt shingle roofs on the apartment buildings appeared extremely worn, faded, and streaked. In addition, the roofs lines appeared to be sagging. I asked the property manager about the this and he stated that it wasn’t as simple as putting another roof on the buildings as they already had two layers of old asphalt shingles and the roofs were having a hard time coping with that extra weight. In addition to the cost of replacing the roof, the manager couldn’t afford the extra cost of ripping off the multiple old roofs and having the material taken away. This is a stock photo showing multiple layers of shingles.
Roofs-Snow:
Our annual inspections routinely reveal ice dams which are ice formations along the roof edges. These cause severe damage to roofs, gutters, and downspouts and cause water to back up into homes. Ice dams normally form due to improper insulation in attics allowing the underside to melt. This water runs down to the roof edge where it refreezes, forming the dam.
For areas not in high wind zones, 4 nails is minimum, 6 is required for steep slopes and high wind zones. Very steep slopes, also called Mansard roofs, as well as areas with extremely high winds require 6 nails per shingle to allow enough hold against the elements.
