How Do You Pass A Roof Inspection?

How Do You Pass A Roof Inspection?

How Do You Pass A Roof Inspection?

There are ten steps that you need to follow in order to pass a roof inspection:

1: Check the roof covering

Determine if the roof covering is intended to act as a weather barrier—the roof covering aims to protect the structure beneath from water incursion and damage.

The roof system must be designed with the underlayment needs, geometry, weather conditions depending on location, and roof covering materials in mind.

2: Check the fasteners.

There are two types of fastening: good and bad. Checking the fasteners from the roof surface will be impossible during a routine house inspection.

Asphalt shingle roofing nails should be hammered straight, flat, and tight to the surface of the asphalt shingles.

Roofing fasteners should not be over-driven to avoid full shingle failure (the head damages or tears the shingle). Other roofing materials, such as tile and slate, require similar attention to fastening quality.

3: Check the deck sheathing

Check to see whether the roof is properly sheathed. This is a little challenging and may become technical and thorough. But what we truly need to know as house inspectors are two things:

  1. The asphalt shingles must be installed on a firm surface and
  2. The asphalt shingles will not provide enough weather protection if the roof is not properly enclosed.

4: Check the slope and underlayment

Inspecting the underlayment on an existing roof is quite impossible. However, there are a few key ideas concerning underlayment that all inspectors should understand in order to evaluate the historical performance of the roof covering you’re evaluating.

Underlayment has three purposes:

(a) It provides temporary weather protection while the roof covering is being installed;

(b) It acts as a secondary weatherproofing barrier beneath the shingles; and

(c) It separates the roof covering from the substrate.

Underlayment is required for asphalt shingle roof systems. Underlayment must also comply with local building codes, maintain a fire rating for the roof assembly, and meet the manufacturer’s warranty requirements.

5: Check the ice barrier

When describing self-adhering underlayment, there is a word that is utilized. The term is “a position at least 24 inches within the buildings outside wall line.”

In areas where there has been a history of ice forming along the eaves, a self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen sheet or at least two layers of underlayment cemented together should be used in place of normal underlayment.

And extend from the lowest edges of all roof surfaces to a point at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line of the building.

6: Check the drip edge.

At the rake and eaves, drip edge metal should be fitted. It gives a good way to finish the underlayment and asphalt shingles. It is an effective means of shedding water. Inspection

7: Check for an offset pattern.

There are a few offset patterns to look for in shingle installation.

  • In the application of square-end, three-tab strip shingles, the “6-inch pattern,” which causes the cuts to the line in every other course, is common.
  • A more random visual appearance can be created by adopting an offset pattern known as the “5-inch method,” which includes deleting approximately 5 inches from each successive course.

Racking (or vertical shingle installation) is typically not advised for asphalt shingles.

8: Check the roof valley flashing.

A valley is formed when two down sloping roof planes connect. Because of the high amount of water and the lower slope along the valley line, the valley is sensitive to water intrusion.

For example, if two 4:12 roof planes intersect to form a valley, the valley is roughly a 3:12 – it has a lower slope than the two planes. As a result, it is particularly prone to water issues.

9: Check the nail penetration into the deck.

If the deck sheathing is thicker than 34 inches, the nails must be long enough to penetrate 34 inches INTO it.

In this picture, the roofing nail (fastener) does not penetrate far enough into the decking material.

That’s not good.

A longer nail is required for the double layer of shingles (in this illustration), which is caused by a second layer installed over a lower layer.

10. Check the flashing areas.

There are four forms of flashing: Penetration flashings, Vertical surface flashings, Skylight flashings, and steep-to-low-slope transition flashings (also known as headwall flashings).

(a) Penetration flashings. This is typically a metal cut and formed to cover holes in roofs or walls. It works by diverting water away from the hole.

(b) Vertical surface flashings. This is typically formed with channel flashing or corrugated metal flashings, which divert water away from vertical surfaces, such as the joint between wall panels and roof structures.

(c) Skylight flashings. Designed for skylights and chimneys, this type of flashing directs water away from them.

(d) Steep-to-low-slope transition flashings. This is not typically used with asphalt shingles and works by diverting water away from the slope of the roof. It’s a good way to prevent ice dams and moisture.

How Does A Roof Fail Inspection?

There are several ways that a roof can fail inspection. One of the most common ways is through broken or missing shingles. This can occur due to age, wind, or storms. Another way that roofs can fail inspection is through cracked, broken, or missing shingles.

This can often indicate improper installation, especially if the problem occurred shortly after installation. Finally, another way roofs can fail inspection is through moss, mold, or mildew.

This can prevent the roof from passing inspection, as it can cause serious problems later on. It can also be a fire hazard.

If a roof fails inspection, it will have to be cleaned and repaired before being allowed to pass inspection again. In many cases, such as with mold, the roof may have to be completely removed and replaced in order for it to pass inspection again.

In order for a roof to pass inspection, it must fit certain criteria determined by local guidelines.

These might include the slope of the roof, how far apart each layer of shingles is from each other, how much moss or mold there is on the roof and whether or not shingles are bowed out from the wood underneath them.

All of these things will determine whether or not a roof passes inspection.

How Much Is A Roof Inspection In Arizona?

Roof inspections are important to ensure your roof’s longevity and integrity. In Arizona, roof inspections typically cost around $160.

The inspection will cover all aspects of the roof, including the soffits and fascia, gutters and downspouts, missing shingles, damaged flashings, and rooftop vents.

By having a certified roof inspector check your roof on a regular basis, you can be sure that any potential problems will be caught early and remedied before they cause serious damage. It is not necessary to have the entire roof inspected.

Only small parts of the roof, such as the ridge crest, should be looked at. You may be able to find a professional to do this for you on-site for free.

In some cases, however, it might be better if you took your business elsewhere, as a few homeowners have found that attempting to handle such issues is costly and frustrating.

 

 

 

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