Before you invest in a house, there are myriad factors that you should consider. Most homeowners look at every detail of the interior so that they know the condition of the house, however one area that is often ignored is the roof. A roof is the most important part of the house that you should carefully check before making your decision as, without a sturdy roof, your home really has no solid protection. Moreover, a damaged roof can lead to a host of other damages and risks.
Here is what to look for in the roof when buying a home
Check if the shingles are intact
A missing or broken shingle is something that you can easily spot standing on the ground floor and if taken care of in time, it will not snowball into a major roof concern. However, if left untreated for long, a shingle that is broken or missing will make your roof prone to damage by water. So if you live in a storm susceptible area, it is best to conduct routine checks of your roof, especially after the passage of a storm and ensure all shingles are intact.
Lookout for blocked/choked gutters
This is yet another concern that, if not treated early, may lead to extensive roof damage that can later cost you dearly. First and foremost, have the gutters checked for debris. This will manifest itself in various ways especially when you find water getting backed out of the gutters and spreading on the roof instead of getting properly and freely guided out of the roof. It is a relatively easy problem to solve and if done in time, can save many future woes.
Check out if there are water stains
This is a sure indication of the presence of leakage somewhere in the house. Check out the ceilings of the rooms on the first floor, which is the most likely place to find them. If you get a strong smell of paint also, it could mean the current homeowners have tried to mask water stains with coats of paint. So watch out for freshly painted areas.
Check on the roof’s actual age
All roofs need replacement at some point or other, be it after short intervals for ill-maintained roofs or longer periods for the well-maintained ones. If you end up buying a house with an ageing roof, it will not protect you like a newer roof would and will also entail additional expenditure on frequent maintenance work. Moreover, it will need replacing soon if it is around 50 years of age, which is the average life span of a roof based on the materials used in building it. So if you do not want to end up repairing or replacing an old roof, get to know about its age before buying a home.
Look for cracks and fissures, molds and downspouts in the roof
Rooftop cracks and leaks can be a nightmare as it causes harm not only to your roof but also to your furniture, floor, walls and much more. Once water starts seeping inside the house, it becomes very difficult to locate the source of the leak and thus it is critical that you inspect the roof thoroughly for cracks before going for the house. You may even need to scrutinize the smoke chimneys, valleys and rooftop creases.
Are you ready to buy?
When you are shortlisting a house to buy, you need to thoroughly check the roof and look for all the tell-tale signs of impending damage or poor maintenance. Getting in touch with experts like Allegiant Roofing can ease the process for you as, all aspects related to the health of a roof is checked, giving you compete for peace of mind when you actually move in.