After getting a brand new roof installed, you want to ensure that the roof will hold up through years of weathering and strain. Without a new roof inspection, how can you ensure your roof will protect your home?
Getting a new roof inspection is essential for ensuring your roof replacement is structurally sound and in good condition. No matter how good your roofing company is, an assessment is needed to check for any mistakes or concerns. Let’s dive into new roof inspections to help you confirm the quality and stability of your new roof.
Why Are Roof Inspections Important for New Roofs?
While you might think a new roof is immediately good to go, a new roof does need to be inspected. Even though you’ve just paid for a professional roof installation, mistakes can happen. Accidents and oversights sometimes occur, and it’s best to be as safe as possible when it comes to your new roof. A new roof inspection will examine the structural integrity of the new roof, allowing you to catch any serious problems early before they become more significant issues.
Although a new roof inspection won’t need to look for signs of aging, vegetation growth and wear, it will inspect for leaks and structural issues. Catching these as early as possible will keep you safe and help you get corrections while your new roof is under warranty. Additionally, having a roof inspection on record for your new roof can help you with an insurance claim if something happens later. Insurance companies want you to have proof of inspections and repairs to confirm you aren’t responsible for the damages they’re covering.
No matter how confident you are in your roofing team, a new roof inspection is a great way to double-check your roof’s security so you can know it will hold up for years to come.
New Roof Inspection Checklist
Inspecting a new roof requires a careful eye and solid attention to detail. A good roof inspection will examine the roof’s interior and exterior, starting inside and slowly checking all the roof problem areas. Here is a checklist that reviews how to inspect a new roof:
Interior
Starting at the roof interior makes it easier to spot underlying structural issues without the strain of getting up onto the roof. Additionally, it’s an ideal starting point for checking for holes and leaks — it’s easier to see sunlight and dripping water inside the attic as they move down into the house. Here’s what to check for in your interior roof inspection:
- Sunlight coming through the roof
- Dripping water and leaks around chimneys and vents
- Cracks in the roof sheathing
- Mold or wet spots
- Wet insulation or frosted nails
- Attic intake vents and kitchen and bathroom exhaust vents for ventilation
- Sagging decking
- Correct roof ventilation
Exterior
Checking exterior roof components involves getting up on top of the roof, so be sure to contact a professional for an inspection. They have the experience and tools to thoroughly and efficiently inspect your roof without issue.
An exterior roof inspection involves checking for the following:
- Gutters and downspouts with clogs and damage
- Roof sagging
- Shingle issues like cracks, breaks and missing granules or loose or missing shingles
- Exposed, loose or popped nails
- Rusted, damaged, corroded or missing flashing
- Rot on fascia board
- Cracks on chimneys
- Damaged or missing caulk
- Good siding condition
DIY Roof Inspection vs. Hiring a Professional
If you’re looking for a new roof inspection, you might need help deciding between doing the check yourself and hiring a professional.
DIY Roofing Inspection
DIY roofing inspections can be cheaper, but you also risk significant chances of hurting yourself or missing important signs of damage. If you fail to catch a problem with your new roof, you might have an expensive repair on your hands down the road, and your warranty might not cover it.
While you should leave roof inspections to professionals, you should still monitor the appearance of your roof. If you can safely inspect the interior of your roof, use a flashlight and note any areas that might be a problem. You can also perform a walkaround of your home to look for any visible issues on the outside of your roof.
Professional Inspection
Professional inspections are ideal for homeowners who want quality results. While a professional inspection will cost you more than a DIY inspection, you won’t have to spend time and energy or risk injuries checking your roof out yourself. Also, a professional will have a better idea of what to look for and can advise you on the best steps for you to take if there’s any roof damage found.
What to Do if Your New Roof Fails Inspection?
You might feel overwhelmed and confused if you’ve recently gotten a new roof that failed inspection. A failed inspection is the last thing homeowners want to deal with, but it can happen. If your roof fails a general inspection, you’ll need to contact your original roofing contractor for repairs. Contacting the roofer is the best option for you — good contractors will work with you to fix the problem, and you won’t have to spend more time researching additional roofers for help.
Once you’ve shown your roofer the inspection results, they should help you get your roof in tip-top shape. If the problem is on their end, you should get these corrective services at little to no charge. After this repair, you should get another roof inspection to confirm everything is truly safe and fixed.
While a reputable roofing company will be understanding in the event of a new roof installation issue, some roofers might be difficult to work with. The first thing you should do is consult your contract and verify the warranty covers the necessary repairs. Then, if the company contests the repairs, you can reach out to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or hire a lawyer to draft a letter reinforcing their legal obligation to fix the problem.
No one wants their roof to fail inspection — trustworthy roofers put their best work into your home and want you to have a safe, secure structure to live under.
Trust AmeriPro Roofing With Your Next Roof Inspection
AmeriPro Roofing has been a trusted roofing contractor for over 20 years. As an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, you can trust our expert team to deliver fast, high-quality roofing services. Whatever your roofing concern, our professional roof inspections are complimentary and reliable. Voted the #1 Residential Roofer in the USA, you know you’re in good hands when you work with AmeriPro Roofing.
If you live near one of our locations across the United States, contact us online to start your roofing service today!
