One of the last things ever on somebody’s to-do list for the day is: schedule a random roofing inspection. Here’s an interesting thought for you. Why do you change the oil in your car? To make sure it doesn’t break down on you right?
This is exactly why it’s important to get your roof inspected regularly, so that it doesn’t break down and cause more damage in your home.
For starters, a roof has a number of components and not all of them are named shingles. You have the trusses or rafters that support the structure of your roof, as well as a sheathing material generally comprised of boards or metal that create the foundation for your roof. Then, on top of that, you have what is called the underlayment or base layer that your tiles or shingles lay on in order to create a layer of protection between the sheathing and shingles. Did you know that this layer is the one that typically degrades the quickest while also being the hardest for a homeowner to inspect without the correct tools? That’s right. The most common degradation in roof integrity you can’t even see with the naked eye.
The type of material your roof is built from is also a big factor. Different types of materials are affected by weathers and elements differently and its important to know the difference (especially when you think about the crazy weather here in Texas!). Typically, in our climate you should have asphalt, composite shingle (the most common in new construction neighborhoods) and wood shingles inspected at least once every three years. Tile and metal grooves can general go 5 years between inspections due to their longer lifespans but keep in mind, the components under all of these can degrade even faster.
Based on this information, getting inspections at these minimums is important but we do recommend an annual checkup to make sure your other components are up to snuff!
