Once you have zeroed in on your dream house and the home inspection agency has looked in to check if the house is safe and structurally sound, They have sent you the inspection report with an assessment of the parts that need to be replaced. Now you are confused about what repairs you should choose.
The home inspection process is a buyer’s single best opportunity to assess a home’s condition. It documents issues big and small, giving you a full picture of exactly what you’ll be taking on as a homeowner. After all, buying a house is probably the largest sum you’ll spend at once on anything in your lifetime! In other words, the inspection will let you know if you should save for a housewarming party and interior decoration or the necessary impending repairs.
Major structural systems should be functioning properly before you shake hands on the deal.
We have broken down some situations that may arise if your home inspection report comes back with a big repair list. Read the below suggestions to aid your decision making about the repairs :
Common Roof Issues
You are better prepared if you have made efforts to find out the issue, and a roof inspection from a trusted roofing contractor will help determine the magnitude of repairs required.
Roof Structure Issues
Sagging Roof
Sagging can be due to aging of the materials, faulty design, or warping and degrading rafters due to a roof leak. Heavy snowfall can also cause the sagging of a roof.
A roofing contractor will have to install extra braces or wooden joists in your roof structure and ensure the structure is safe and supported. They might also have to jack up the roof from the inside before installing new braces or additional rafters.
Leaky Roof
The number one cause of roof leaks is not the roofing material but rather any joints where roofing material meets other surfaces or a different roof section. Leaks usually develop at these junctions.
Places to check for the root cause of roof leaks
– Flashing around the chimney: This is where the roofing material meets your chimney. Carefully check especially the highest side of your chimney as water runs down to that joint with some force when it is raining.
– Joints: Two roofs sloping in different directions will often cross or join into one. Leaks are common in these areas as water runs down these joints naturally.
– Boxed gutters: These are essential gutters with roofs sloping into them from two sides. A boxed gutter is often the source of leaks as a lot of water runs down.
-A faulty drainage system is one of the top reasons for roof leaks. If you have sanitary pipes along with the storeys, they might need to be replaced.
-Any other flashing where your roof meets other structures like walls, plumping, or even skylights can be the cause of an issue.
The Roof Interior
Sometimes the exterior roof may give off an impression of a strong interior. But looks could be deceptive, and therefore you need to know where to look for places that need repair from inside the roof. This could be tricky when you go house hunting; the interiors are assumed to be livable if the exteriors are a big catch. A neglected roof could be a safety hazard. A thorough home inspection can also reveal these roof issues.
Damaged Plumbing Vent Boots
Plumbing vent boots vary. They could be all plastic, plastic and metal, or even two-piece metal units. Check plastic bases for cracks and metal bases for broken seams. Then examine the rubber boot surrounding the pipe. That could have rotten away or torn, allowing water to work its way into the house along the pipe.
And If only the nails at the base are missing or pulled free, but the boot is in good shape, replace them with the rubber-washer screws used for metal roofing systems.
Dirty, Clogged Soffits
Attic ventilation is critical to the health of your house. It begins with soffit vents that inhale outside air—necessary to create an airflow that moves warm attic air out the roof vents. Once the air enters the soffit, it usually proceeds through an air chute or some other opening along the underside of the roof into the attic.
Roof Materials Issues
Whether the roof is made of metal, wood or slate, it is bound to wear down over time. It could be water penetrating through the roof, missing shingles or the overall structure could require attention. You need to look out for indications of rot and damage to ascertain whether the roof needs to be repaired or replaced.
To know the problems associated with different types of materials, read below
Standing seam metal roof
Visible waviness in the flat areas of metal roofing and metal wall panels. In technical terms, oil canning is referred to as elastic buckling (more commonly known as “stress wrinkling”). It can occur in any type of metal panel: steel, aluminum, zinc, or copper.”
Think of oil canning as the metal on a standing seam metal system being over-stressed and unable to hold a flat form, which causes the metal to give in and create visible waves.
Asphalt Roofing
If asphalt shingles are subject to extreme temperature changes, the shingles can begin to crack and may even split completely. It can prove to be a severe issue that can impact the integrity of your entire roof, especially if any cracks go unnoticed. Over time, these cracks can allow moisture to seep through the shingles and into other layers of roofing, which can lead to all types of serious and costly damage.
Cedar shake roof
When exposed to excessive amounts of water, the cedar shake can curl, leaving open spaces for leaking.
Moss and rot are a problem specific to wood shake roofs. You want to look for green, fuzzy textures in the cracks between the cedar shake on your roof. But also, look for frayed or split bottom edges of your shakes, especially near your gutters or on the trim of your roof. This is a favorite spot for moss and rot to start because it’s where most of the stormwater collects.
Slate roof Issues
Slipping
Slates may have slipped out of line with the pattern of the roof. This may be due to nail breakage or enlargement of the nail hole due to natural decay.
Nail Sickness
The original nails used to fix slates are often made of iron or low-quality galvanized steel and will rust over time. Corrosion can cause nails to snap, allowing the slate to slip. It is termed ‘ nail sickness’ when this can be detected in several slates across a roof.
Brittle slates
If you have several broken, fractured slates or pieces coming off the roof or into the gutter, the slate may be reaching the end of its useful life and becoming ‘soft’. As a natural stone, the slate will absorb water over a very long time and eventually start to break.
Quality of the Installation
When installing a new roof, the material must be chosen carefully with full awareness of the long-term pros and cons.
Check below parameters before finalizing :
Strength
Strong roofing materials don’t break easily. They may sustain some denting during hailstorms, but high-velocity ice pellets can’t damage them severely upon impact.
Metal and slate are two of the most durable roofing materials on the market.
Wind Resistance
The roof’s ability to stay in place during violent wind events, like sustained gales, depends largely on several things.
Water Repellency
Roofs are constantly exposed to moisture one way or another, so it’s imperative to buy a material that doesn’t weaken quickly because of water. Slate is a favorite choice in roof replacement because it tends to remain structurally sound despite prolonged moisture exposure. Most of today’s metal roofing products, including those containing iron, are resistant to water damage.
Problems with Roof Shingles
Blistering
When moisture makes its way into the shingle during the manufacturing process, it can cause bubbling over time. For a little bit of background, shingles typically consist of three main layers: A fiberglass backing, a coating of asphalt, and the granules on the top. If moisture somehow makes its way between any of these layers, the potential for blistering is higher.
Shingles Curling
Roof Shingles may start to curl when they are nearing the end of their useful life cycle – this could happen if the shingles were improperly installed. Ventilation issues can trap moisture and cause the shingles to curl. Thermal shock – when the high temperature of the roof cools rapidly, the curls will stay in place.
Cracking
Cracking is natural for shingles as they age. Over time, wind, roof stresses, thermal movement, and deck movement aid in shingle cracking. So, if your roof is older and some surface cracks don’t completely split or tear through the shingles, it’s most likely because the shingles are old.
Bottom Line
When you receive the list of repairs, you can choose how and what to spend a fortune on. Preventive maintenance can spot mild defects before they go on and turn into acute problems or even mishaps. It will also save you from having to do hasty repairs that can end up causing more damage than good. Take note of the above issues and plan for restructuring accordingly.
