A roof system involves many components working together to keep your home safe and dry. A proper roof inspection will include a review of each of those components to get a comprehensive understanding of how well the roof is performing.
That is exactly how we inspect roofs at Sol Vista Roofing.
For each roof we inspect, we’ll analyze from the perimeter on the ground, from the ladder, from the top of the roof, and from the attic. We take photos using a favorite tool of ours, CompanyCam, to document everything we see along the way and easily share our findings and photos with our clients. It’s common for us to take over 100 photos during a routine inspection.
This is our typical inspection process for shingle roofs, which comprise 70% of roofs in Colorado. Other roof types such as tile roofs, flat roofs, metal roofs, and wood shake roofs will follow a similar process with slight variations based on material type.
Perimeter Inspection
We start all our inspections by walking around the perimeter of the property from ground-level. We invite our customers to walk the perimeter with us, if they want to, to help them understand how all their roof system components work together.
The perimeter walk allows us to see how the roof system is working in conjunction with the gutters, downspouts, fascia, and soffits on your home. We are also on the lookout for trees or large foliage that could be contributing to debris on the rooftop. During the perimeter walk we also look closely at the siding, windows, and window screens to see if there is evidence of recent hail damage.
Ladder Inspection
We’ll find a good location to post our ladder, and we’ll spend two minutes at the top of our ladder before we climb all the way up. This is the best location for measuring the slope of the roof (how steep it is) and measuring the shingle thickness. Then we lift up the bottom edge of shingles slightly to document if there are additional roof layers underneath, what type of underlayment paper is present, and whether ice and water shield and/or shingle starter are present.
Rooftop Inspection
Of course the majority of our time is spent on the rooftop during our inspection process. This step includes inspection and documentation of:
- Overall roof surface. Are the shingles sufficiently covered in granules? Are the edges still crisp, or worn and curling/buckling? Is there evidence of significant hail bruising?
- Water ponding. Are there any areas, such as near chimneys, where water can pool before flowing into gutters?
- Ridge and hip. Are there blown-off ridge shingles? What about exposed nails without sealant?
- Are the valleys directing water into the gutter system? Are there any blockages or debris?
- Roof penetrations (furnace vents, pipe jacks, vents). Are the penetration flashings in working condition? What about the rubber boot jacks?
- Chimney and/or skylight. These are common areas where we find potential for leaks.
- Wall flashing. Is the flashing diverting water away from wall joints and towards the gutter drainage system?
- Storm damage. Is there hail damage present, and if so how much and how severe? Wind damage is also common in Colorado and can result in blown-off shingles that expose the roof deck beneath.
Attic Inspection
The final area to inspect is the attic space. We do not need to assess every square foot, but the attic inspection helps identify what type of roof deck is present (plywood, OSB, or plank), whether the space between boards meets local building code, and if the deck is still dry and solid.
We’ll also assess the attic vents to ensure they are venting air up and out, while keeping moisture and pests out. And, finally, we’ll note if insulation and vent baffles are installed and in good condition.
Drone Use
In some cases, such as very steep, high, or large roofs, we will deploy our company drone to capture high-resolution aerial images and videos. These images let us get a sense of the full working operation of your roof in a safe manner. If you prefer a drone inspection for your property, let us know in advance so we can come equipped with the right tools.
Our project managers perform these comprehensive inspections as a complimentary, no-obligation service to our customers. If there is storm damage present, or if the roof is failing due to age or improper installation, we will be honest in our assessment and are glad to provide a quote for repairs. However, many times we find the roof to be in good working condition with no repairs needed.
Think it’s time to have your roof inspected by one of our pros? Contact us here to get on our schedule.
