Everyone can try to perform a roof inspection, like most homeowners do, and spot clear problems on your roof, like missing shingles, without even having to climb on the roof.

However, professional roof inspectors like ours know the exact places to check; we know about the durability of the materials, how to inspect from the inside in the attic, where your roof problems possibly came from, and how to take advantage of the latest technology, as well as our own tools, to analyze thoroughly. 

Not only that, but documenting everything we’ve seen with a trained eye is also part of our job, so you will receive a full report and an expert opinion on whether you should repair, replace, or let your roof be if everything’s in order.

There’s no reason not to get a professional inspector to take a look at your roof since it’s free; it takes less time and effort than if you tried to do it by yourself, it would be more in-depth, and it’s only a call away!

There are lots of factors that our roof inspectors will be looking for whenever we’re checking out a new roof. You can expect an inspection of the roof's structure, its materials, any workmanship problems, and an interior inspection for any possible leaks seen on the ceiling. Going into more detail and breaking it down into parts, roof inspectors usually check components such as:

• Soffits, Fascia, and Drip Edges: These are the components that cover the roof overhang, usually the first to be checked since they are found on the edge of the roof and they usually aren’t home to any major issues, mostly water that made its way inside them. From the ground level, our inspector will examine the condition of the soffit material for glaring problems even the untrained eye could find. After getting on a ladder, we will inspect more closely for any water presence behind the fascia and drip edges and try to determine where it came from.
• Gutters and Downspouts: It is essential for our inspector to ensure that the gutters are clear of any standing water and that the downspouts are firmly fixed and working correctly. Once this is done, they can move from analyzing the roof's edges to checking the roof itself.
• Roofing Material: The most in-depth roof examinations that best determine the condition of the roofing material are made standing on the roof itself or with new technologies like drones for better results. Here, our inspector will look for loose, damaged, missing, curled, or old shingles in most cases. If your roof is not made of shingles, but tiles, slates, or maybe other materials like metal, that could be the root of their own issues. Regardless of composition or material, we can generally expect stains, moss, algae, piles of leaves, rust, and a wide variety of other possibilities and problems on most roofs. From this, our inspector can estimate how much life your roofing material has left and state it in the report at the end of the inspection.
• Roof Penetrations: Vent pipes, roof vents, or other items require that holes be made in your roof, which are covered by various boots, seals, sealants, or flashing to keep water out. Our inspector usually has to make sure that the condition and effectiveness of all these penetration seals and their materials are optimal to prevent leaks or any similar problems in the future.
• Attic: If your home allows access to the attic, inspecting the roof from the inside of it can prove beneficial and should be one of the first things to look at. Stains, mold, rot, moisture, or other water damage can be easily spotted on bare wood, especially after heavy rain, and will tell you exactly where a roof problem has occurred. There could also be a problem with your attic’s ventilation, which is crucial for your roof’s lifespan and even your home’s energy bill. This is why our inspector must also check most of your home’s vents to look for any damage or obstructions that may stop them from working as they should. If the air in your attic gets too hot or cold, it could drastically shorten your roof’s lifespan, and improper ventilation can even void your roofing material warranties.
• Flashing: These are strips of metal, plastic, or other materials that divert water away from the joint created where a wall extends through the roof, with strict building codes regarding their installation. Our inspector will look for damage or rust in your flashing, ensure the integrity of the metal can still hold up, and ensure it’s up to code and make recommendations if not.
• Window and Chimney Condition: A complete roof inspection should include checking the skylight windows and chimney conditions. Even though they are not part of the roofing system, inspecting them before replacing the roof could prevent extra roofing expenses later. Masonry chimneys could have cracks, grout deterioration, cap damage, or more.

Roof inspections don’t usually take too long; however, the exact time it might take depends on a few factors unique for everyone, like:

• The size of the roof, its materials, and how sectioned it can be depending on the shape of the house.
• How unorganized the attic may be, making it harder to go through it and investigate.
• How hard it might be to take a look at the roof itself from the outside in case there’s any severe damage.
• How advanced the technology used by the roof inspector is, like specialized drones, and more. 

On average, and taking all of this into account, a roof inspection can last from 40 minutes to even 3 or 4 hours in the most extreme cases, such as after a severe storm. Still, most regular roof inspections don’t usually take over 2 hours, so there’s no reason not to call for a roof inspection whenever you think it might be necessary.

At Worthmann Roofing, we see every flaw in a roof, major or minor, as something that shouldn’t be there. Whether you’re just missing a couple of shingles, your roof is leaking, or a tree fell over your entire home, any concerns you may have about your roof not being in perfect condition are our concerns as well.

Given we encourage everyone interested in roof check-ups, repairs, and replacements to call us now for a free roof inspection, you can feel free to contact us in case your roof has received damage in any capacity. We’ll make sure to point out any problems your roof might have, whether you noticed or not, and the best course of action to get started right away.

Surely, if the damage caused to your roof is not too severe, you can attempt to repair it yourself; however, it is not recommended. Patching shingles might be a more straightforward job, but more complicated work might require you to learn more about how to do a repair job, and there are more drawbacks than advantages to this.

First of all, professional roofing teams like ours have lots of experience, so we’ll be able to finish any roof repair faster than someone without prior knowledge, given we know the techniques and processes involved in roof repair. We also count on our valuable tools and the latest technology to help us work more effectively, as well as warranties that ensure the repair is done correctly, which you couldn’t count on if you were attempting to repair your roof on your own.

What you can more easily do to help is assess and document all the visible damage and sources of leaks you find. This way, you can speed up the inspection process by explaining your situation to our inspector and directing him to the most critical damages done to your property so we can bring a team of experts as soon as possible.