FInd a Contractor


How's That Roof? Having Your Roof Inspected Now Can Avoid Costly Problems Later

By Megan Holmes

The roof above is an exampleIt isn't as sexy as marble countertops or french doors, but the roof is one of the most important, costly and largely overlooked portions of a house.

Resurfacing a roof costs thousands of dollars, and will cost much more if the existing roofing surface needs to be removed prior to re-roofing. This is why your roof should be inspected by a professional on a regular basis.

Over the course of a year roofing materials are exposed to tremendous temperature changes that cause singles and flashing to expand and contract. Eventually, this process causes roofing materials to wear out. Inspection is especially important after a winter like the one we just had. Not only did the large snowfall possibly cause water and ice damage to your roof, the weight of the snow itself may have caused some problems.

The first thing to determine is what type of roof you have. There are five main types of roofs.

Composition - these are flat and are commonly called shingles
Tile - Usually made of clay or concrete and can be flat, W shaped, or S shaped
Shake - These are made of wood and can be either thick or very thin
Flat - Usually covered with rock or rolled roofing
Slate - Rock covering used mostly on older homes

If you already have a leak you need to call a reputable contractor IMMEDIATELY.
A good inspector should be able to find problems such as...

  • Small or large pieces of roofing on the ground or in bushes
  • Roofing granules that are washing off into the downspouts
  • Visible signs of missing pieces or shingles lifting up
  • Cracked or broken tiles or slate
  • Water stained or wet wood in your attic
  • Damp or matted insulation
  • Water in skylights or chimney
  • Discoloring or peeling of wallpaper, and paint blistering

Not only should you have your roof inspected if you are a current homeowner, you should employ the services of an inspector if you are planning on buying a home. According to Inspect America's Home Buyers Top Ten List of Defects, "Buyers who inspect their prospective homes by themselves are rarely qualified to conduct a thorough home inspection and even if they have a good knowledge base to work from, they are too emotionally involved in the purchase and are usually blinded by the glitter of the cosmetic issues."

When hiring a professional you need to keep a few things in mind...

Licensed Contractors - This is a requirement by the state
Experience - The company itself should have a long track record
Insurance - Roof work can be quite dangerous so they should be insured
Large Crews - There is a lot of debris when removing a roof that should be cleaned up as quickly as possible.
Membership in Professional Associations - Find out if the contractor is a member of any professional organization, such as the Maryland Improvement Contractors Association (MICA). This means they care about the quality of their work and as well as their profession. Search our directory of home improvement professionals and find a MICA-member contractor for your project.

720 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
TEL: (410) 576-1127• FAX: (410) 752-8295 • EMAIL: MICA@assnhqtrs.com