Ready to arrange Roof Inspection around Western Pennsylvania?
The team at The Roofing Company can examine every part of your roof, from the eaves to the ridge, and tell you what can wait
Call us at 412-858-8858 after a storm, a thaw or a long freeze
What a Roof Check Involves, Step by Step
An inspection of a roof is a slow, orderly look at its condition, done from three vantage points; the goal is to learn what shape the roof is in. Roof Inspection turns a guess into a record, and the answer may well be that nothing is needed; the point is to know before the next storm.
The roofer wants to learn which joints are weak and which patches are worn, how well the roof sheds snow and ice, and before a drip turns into a bigger job. Not every visit ends with a repair, and the notes make the next check easier; either way the facts are written down.
Looking Up From the Lawn: Clues in Plain Sight
Before a ladder goes up, the roofer studies the roof from every side, since the overall shape of the roof tells a story; nothing is left to memory.
- Slopes that look uneven from the street, a sign worth a closer look
- Rows of shingles that have slipped or cracked, which shows how far the wear has gone
- Every place where the roof is cut through or butts into something, since those joints move with the weather
- Gutters and downspouts, and any water marks behind them tell their own story
- Leaves piled in valleys and on flat sections, and what it might do by next winter
A walk around the house sets up the rest of the visit, since the plan for the roof surface starts here; winter conditions can limit what is reachable. A steep or wet roof is a risk, so the roofer picks the approach with care, and a note about limits is a mark of honest work; a camera with a zoom reaches farther than most people think.
The Hands-On Part: Slope by Slope
Up close, every course of shingles gets a careful look, and the flashing is tested by hand; sealant that has dried and split is a leak waiting to happen. Roofers spend longest on the joints rather than the open slope, and those spots take the full force of a thaw. Roof Inspection on a steep slope may rely on a ladder, a lift or binoculars for the upper courses, and a careless step can do damage; ponding water on a flat section is a sign to watch.
The View From the Attic: Insulation, Vents and Daylight
The underside of the deck keeps a record of every leak, in stains, rusty nails and darkened boards; a dark ring that has dried is an old leak that may have stopped. Airflow and insulation are part of the picture, because a warm attic melts snow from below. Good Roof Inspection never ends at the roof edge, and moisture patterns can be traced to their source. Insulation tells its own tale, and the worst spots often match the ice at the eaves; a roofer will point these out when seen.
The Record of the Visit: What Goes Into the File
A camera is as important as a ladder on a roof visit, with a wide shot first and then a close one; a photo of a worn patch is stronger than a description. Written notes describe the covering, the slopes, the metal, the gutters and the attic, and a line on anything the roofer could not see; it also helps you decide what to do first. The record from Roof Inspection outlasts the visit, since a roof that was fine last spring may look different after another winter. Photos work in sets, from wide to tight, and labels on each picture keep things straight; it can be read without the roofer present.
Moments That Call for a Look, in This Climate
Ice dams, heavy snow and deep cold all leave marks on a roof, and the damage is easiest to see when the surface is dry; icicles and ice at the eaves are a hint that something is off. Pittsburgh hillsides funnel wind across roofs, so a visit after a bad blow is a sensible move; creased shingles show where the wind caught them. A strong summer thunderstorm can bruise shingles and knock off granules, and the marks are not always visible from the ground. Following a storm, Roof Inspection is the simplest way to know what happened, and later damage is easier to tell apart from earlier wear; small repairs stay small when they are found early. Each cycle pries a little more at seams and sealant, so a roof can look fine one season and tired the next; ice on the edge and a lift at the shingle tabs are early signs.
Real Estate and Reroofing: Do Not Guess
Before you commit to a house, it helps to know what is overhead, and surprises after closing are no fun; Roof Inspection gives a buyer a plain picture of what lies ahead. Having a written summary ready can smooth a sale, and a documented condition helps the conversation. When a replacement is on the table, a survey comes first, and the deck and attic findings shape the plan; the survey also reveals deck repairs that would otherwise be a surprise.
The Written Summary, Short and Clear
You should come away with a written summary, and it lists every area of concern; items are often ranked as urgent, soon or watch. Roof Inspection should end with plain statements, not riddles: what was seen, where it was seen and how serious it looks; a good summary invites questions. Recommendations come last, after the facts, and a good roofer separates what is needed from what is optional.
What to Do and Ask, and a Few Questions
Give the roofer easy access to the yard, the ladder spots and the attic, and notes about past stains or drips help the roofer; stay clear of the ladder while it is up.
- Ask whether the roof, the attic and the gutters are all included, and what happens if the weather turns
- Ask whether a written summary comes with the visit, and how the notes are organized
- Ask how a repair differs from a replacement, and what can safely wait
Start With a Call From Western Pennsylvania: Let Us Take a Look
When you want facts about the roof, Roof Inspection is where to begin, and you can ask anything about the process. Call us at 412-858-8858 to talk with The Roofing Company, and we will start with what you have seen.
