As an experienced roofer with one of the most reputable roofing companies in Dallas, the most common question that Lane Aleman of Mt. Auburn Roofing Company gets asked is how often people should get their roofs inspected- regardless of any obvious damage. Yet the peculiar thing is that when homeowners find out that the industry suggests inspections every three years, they disregard this advice. And while he says that the three year recommendation is a general number, he warns that you shouldn’t let your roof go without being properly inspected for more than five years.
When it comes to your roof- yes, the structure that protects the rest of your home and thus your family- you can never be too cautious. While the roof of your home is designed to withstand natural elements such as wind, rain, heat, and snow, common wear and tear does result as time progresses. However, if your roofing specialist happens to notice that a few of your shingles look particularly worn when he is performing preventative maintenance on the home, then this could ultimately save you from having buckets of water cascading into your rooms during the next rain storm. Spotting and treating any lifted shingles or small holes in your roof early on will eventually save you thousands of dollars, he says, because you can guarantee that the problem will only become worse the longer it goes unnoticed.
If you’re a business owner, however, then you have even less room for procrastination and should have your roof inspected at least once a year. Since many businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have very low slope roofs or roofs that are completely flat, water build-up is a lot more common than it is on residential homes with more prominent slopes for water drainage. This excess water after a rain or snow storm can escalate from a small problem to a major leak fairly quickly if not addressed properly.
Although, as would be expected, money is sometimes the deciding factor that keeps home and business owners from having their roofs inspected, many people also ignore the advice of roofing experts simply because they are unfamiliar with the process that is involved, Aleman says. However, when you contact a technician from Mt. Auburn Roofing Company, or your own local roofer, the entire inspection progresses smoothly and won’t disrupt the rest of your daily responsibilities.
Mainly, he says, the roofing specialist will be looking for any signs of water damage on the ceilings of your home upon his initial walk-through. In addition, he will also look for signs of moisture in the walls and any small puddles that may have formed in your attic since all of these are indicators of a leak.
Once the in-home portion of the inspection has been completed, then the specialist will make his way onto your roof to assess the overall condition of the structure. In particular, Aleman notes, it is important to check the projections—anything that protrudes from your roof, such as a chimney—and the flashings to make sure that everything is properly sealed and secured. Upon completion, your roofing specialist will provide you with his feedback and suggestions for moving forward with any repairs that he may feel are necessary.
In either instance, Aleman says, preventive maintenance is so important, though often times its significance is downplayed. While yes, it may cost you money to have a roofing specialist come to your home every few years, the expense is far less than what it would cost you to replace all of the shingles on your roof because of a water leak that has led to mold growth. As a home or business owner, you should be constantly preparing for the future, and having a regular roofing inspection is an imperative part of that process.
