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Roof Inspection Checklist
What are Composition Shingles?
What are Dimensional Shingles?
What is Roof Sheathing?
Which permits are required?
1. From outside:
- Are there any blistered, curled, or split shingles? A few can
be repaired, but if the general appearance of the roof is poor,
it may be time to re-roof.
- Are there loose or missing shingles or tiles? Simply re-nailing
loose shingles may only mask a problem that will eventually get
worse.
- Do you see any exposed nails? They can be a source of leaks.
- If your roof is covered with composition (asphalt) shingles,
look for dark patches indicating the granular coating has worn
away.
- Look for significant accumulation of granules in your rain gutters.
Some granules are normal, but a lot, combined with dark patches
on your shingles, is a sign of an aging roof.
- Check where ridges and hips meet. Shingles may break or work
loose in these spots.
- Any rusty metal or displaced shingles along the valley are signs
of roof weaknesses.
- Inspect the flashing around plumbing vents and chimneys. Loose
shingles or rusty, loose flashing is another sign of trouble.
Step flashing around chimneys must be well embedded in the mortar
between bricks.
- Where a vertical side of the house meets the roof, such as along
dormer walls, flashing should be firmly in place or it is a potential
leak.
- Check the gutters closely for sagging and signs of leaks between
sections. Are the downspouts firmly in place and directing water
away from the house foundation?
- If you have a shake or shingle roof, inspect the flashing around
chimneys and vertical walls carefully because acid in the wood
can eat away at the flashing over the years. In consistently moist
areas, prevent mildew by regularly removing wet leaves that collect
in certain parts of the roof.
If you have a shake or shingle roof, inspect the flashing around
chimneys and vertical walls carefully because acid in the wood can
eat away at the flashing over the years. In consistently moist areas,
prevent mildew by regularly removing wet leaves that collect in
certain parts of the roof.
2. From inside:
- In the attic, look for signs of leaks. Dark stains on the rafters
or the underside of the roof decking material generally indicate
water trails. Look for water signs around plumbing vent pipes
and along chimneys, skylights, and valleys.
- Lookup through the roof for any pinpoints of light.
- Look for sagging sheathing between rafters. This is one sign
of an old roof in need of repair. Sagging or cracked rafters will
certainly require repair or replacement as part of a new roof
installation.
3. Flat roof:
- Look for any blisters on the roof. If not already broken, blisters
eventually will break, which may allow water to enter the roof.
- Look for depressions around vent pipes where water can collect
and begin leaking through cracks in the surface.
- Check all flashing for any separations by the parapet that surrounds
the flat roof.
- Clean drains at the low end of the roof so water can run off
without interruption.
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Also called asphalt shingles, these cover 70% of all roofs in this
country. Composition shingles are divided into two types, organic
or fiberglass. Organic composition roofs are manufactured with a
cellulose fiber base made from recycled paper and wood fibers. This
base is then saturated with asphalt and given a mineral coating
on one side to resist weathering. Fiberglass shingles are made in
a similar fashion but the central core is fiberglass, which is more
flexible and stronger than the cellulose materials.
Composition shingles are manufactured in a wide variety of colors
and are rated by their projected life expectancy, typically 20,
25, and 30 years. Most roofing manufacturers warranty their roofs
for these periods, but only if certified roofers install them. Otherwise,
the manufacturers disallow any guarantees.
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These are made from the same material as organic or fiberglass
composition shingles but are much thicker. The additional layers
may be sculpted to provide attractive shadow lines that give the
roof a customized appearance. The extra thickness also increases
their life expectancy, up to 40 years. As with composition shingles,
the manufacturer's warranty generally applies only if one of their
certified roofers installs the material.
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The skeleton of a roof is formed with rafters or trusses, generally
spaced 16 inches or 24 inches on center (from the center of one
rafter to the center of the next) apart. To stabilize the rafters
and support the roofing material, rafters are covered with sheathing,
or decking.
Common roof sheathing materials include the following:
Plywood: Plywood, which comes in standard 4-by-8 foot sheets, is
strong, durable, and relatively light. It holds roofing nails well.
The common grade of plywood for roof sheathing is CDX. As a quick
primer in plywood, each side is rated from A to D. A is smooth and
knot-free while D, the lowest quality, has missing knots and cracks.
One side is usually better quality than the other - C in this case.
It should be placed up on the roof. X stands for exterior use. For
rafters spaced 16 inches on center, 1/2-inch plywood is standard.
For rafters spaced 24 inches on center, 5/8-inch plywood is preferred
to minimize sagging.
Tongue and groove 2-by-6: These boards are commonly used as roof
sheathing where a ceiling will not be installed and they will be
visible from inside the house, such as across beams in a vaulted
ceiling. Wood is an excellent insulator and in moderate climates
no additional rigid insulation on the roof is necessary. The boards
can be painted, stained, or coated with polyurethane to retain their
natural color.
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Security Roofing will take the worry out of the permit and inspection
process. Other job related paperwork like notices of commencement,
may be required, to accompany the permit posted on site. We take
care of all necessary job related administrative requirements for
you.
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