It’s easy to forget about the care and maintenance of your home’s roof. Although it plays an important role and is a sizable feature of your house, we never really see it. It’s out of sight, so it’s usually out of mind.
But this unseen structure is one of the most vital aspects of your home. It protects you, your family, and everything you own, sheltering you from the hot sun, soaking rain, and powerful winds.
So, although we may not do it as much as we should, roof inspections should be a routine part of our home maintenance and upkeep. Roofing companies can help you catch minor problems before they become expensive ones.
How long does a roof inspection take? Let’s take a closer look.
What Happens During a Professional Roof Inspection?
During a professional roof inspection process, roofing contractors will come out to your property and assess your roof for various things, including:
- Wear and tear
- Loose, damaged, or missing shingles
- Roof leak
- Damaged gutters
- Organic growth
- Structural issues
A roofing inspection aims to rule out or identify any damage or hazards to your home’s roof.
A roof inspection can look different depending on your needs and the roofing company you choose to work with. It may cover an exterior inspection only, but it could also include an interior roof inspection.
Interior Roof Inspections
If your roof inspector includes an interior look at your home’s uppermost structure, then a licensed roofer will enter your home and assess the interior ceiling, attic, and walls for any leaks.
Things like rotted or damaged wood, mold, and water stains in these areas can indicate a leak somewhere on your roof.
How Long Does a Roof Inspection Take?
So, how long does a roof inspection take? The exact length can depend on the size of your home, the complexity of the design of your roof, and whether or not there is a lot of damage to go over.
In general, the average roof inspection takes about an hour. That might seem like a long time, but roofing inspections should be very detailed. Leaks can happen in the tiniest of openings, so an inspector should take his time with a thorough assessment.
If your inspection takes less than 30 minutes, you may consider asking for a more thorough inspection or considering a different roofing company the next time around.
Why Should I Get a Roof Inspection?
There are several advantages to getting your roof inspection, whether you suspect damage or you’re just taking care of routine upkeep.
Avoided Spreading Damage
What most people don’t understand about roof damage is that it can quickly spread and cause more damage if it’s not addressed.
A loose or broken shingle can let water under the first line of defense, which can cause the wood to rot and lead to leaks and structural damage. A hole caused by a flying branch will only become bigger the longer it sits. Mold and organic growth spread speedily.
Getting a roof inspection can prevent a minor problem from turning into a severe one.
Minimize Costs
The bigger the problem, the more expensive it’s going to be. Repairing those loose or broken shingles will not only prevent damage from spreading, but it will keep your overall repair costs down.
A roof inspection will identify any problem that needs to be addressed so you can fix it now before you wind up paying more for worse damage. Plus, roof repairs now will extend the overall life of your roof and save you from paying for a new one.
Remember: a roof inspection cost will always be less than a roof replacement.
Ensure Safety
A well-maintained roof is a safe roof. As the uppermost part of your home and the first line of defense against outside elements, your roof should hold up to provide you with safety.
Scheduling a regular roof inspection ensures that your roof is stable and structurally sound, ready to keep you and your family safe.
Do I Need a Roof Inspection?
We now know that a roof inspection is a crucial part of home maintenance, but how do you know if you need one in your home?
There are a few different situations that call for a professional roof inspection.
Buying a Home
Ninety-eight percent of homes sold get a home inspection done, but more than 85 percent of these properties have roof damage or leaks.
The numbers don’t lie, and the National Roof Certification and Inspection Association agrees that every home for sale should have a roof inspection completed. Otherwise, as the buyer, you could risk paying thousands of dollars in roof repair or replacement costs.
After a Storm
Various kinds of severe weather can damage your roof, even if it doesn’t look like it. Heavy rain, strong winds, hail, significant snowfall, and more can damage roof storm damage.
If your area just experienced a severe storm, it’s a good idea to get your roof inspected—just in case. Even damage as minute as loose shingles can eventually lead to more significant damage, and many roof inspectors will do storm roof inspections for free.
Annually
The NRCIA also recommends you get your roof inspected yearly to keep up with any damage or wear and tear you might have missed. Because we rarely go up on our roofs, it’s easy for things to happen right under our noses.
Having an annual inspection can keep you up to date with the little repairs before they add up to something more substantial down the road.
The best time to do an annual inspection is either before your warranty or certification expires or before the rainy season hits. Some people also like to schedule inspections before it gets too cold because freezing and snow can delay any potential repair timelines.
Final Thoughts
A new roof can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000. The average roof inspection cost is around $300. In the long run, it’s much more ideal to pay a tiny fraction of that cost for an inspection and minor repairs than to unexpectedly hand over a large chunk of cash.
But how long does a roof inspection take? A roof inspection takes up just an hour of your time, so it’s worth ensuring you have a safe and well-functioning roof over your head. After this inspection, you can have confidence that all the components of your roof system are good to go.
Consider making a roof inspection an annual part of your home’s maintenance. You won’t regret it.
