Looking for Post-Storm Roof Inspection for a home in Western Pennsylvania?
The team at The Roofing Company can examine every part of your roof, from the eaves to the ridge, and photograph anything that matters
Call us at 412-858-8858 after a storm, a thaw or a long freeze
The Scope of a Roof Visit, From Gutters to Ridge
A roof inspection is basically a thorough survey of the roof, done from three vantage points; the aim is a clear picture of what is sound and what is worn. Post-Storm Roof Inspection gives you facts about the roof that you cannot see from the yard, and the answer may well be that nothing is needed; the point is to know before the next storm.
Roofers aim to find out which joints are weak and which patches are worn, whether the deck underneath is firm, and before a drip turns into a bigger job. Sometimes the finding is simply that the roof is in sound shape, and the notes make the next check easier; the point is that you hear it plainly.
Looking Up From the Lawn: Clues in Plain Sight
A roofer starts with a slow walk around the outside of the house, and it gives a sense of where to look more closely; a sketch of the roof helps keep track.
- Any wave or dip in the roof plane, which can point to a problem with the deck or framing
- Patches where the granules have worn away, which shows how far the wear has gone
- Flashing at chimneys, walls, skylights and vent pipes, checked for cracked sealant and loose metal
- Gutter runs and the board behind them, and the roofer looks for stains on the siding below
- Branches rubbing the shingles, because damp spots wear faster
Binoculars and a camera can only show so much from the yard, because anything odd gets a closer look; safety decides how much happens on the roof. Ladders, harnesses and good boots are part of the job, and that is true in winter above all; a good look from the yard is still useful.
Close Contact With the Shingles: Touch, Look and Photograph
Once conditions allow, the roofer goes up and works across each slope, and the ridge, hips and valleys are checked one by one; blistered or cracked shingles show age. Valleys and flashing get extra time, as repeated freezing opens up small gaps. Post-Storm 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; the roofer notes how water leaves the flat area.
The Underside of the Deck, Looked at With a Flashlight
A flashlight in the attic often tells more than an hour on the roof, in stains, rusty nails and darkened boards; a dark ring that has dried is an old leak that may have stopped. Roofers look for blocked soffit vents and compressed insulation, since heat loss feeds ice dams. Post-Storm Roof Inspection is more reliable when someone looks from below as well as above, because the cause of a leak is often far from the stain. Trails of dirt in the insulation can show air leaking up from the rooms below, since insulation and air sealing do as much for ice as shingles do; a hatch that leaks warm air is a common culprit.
Documenting What Is Found: Evidence You Can Keep
The roofer shoots each slope, each joint and each trouble spot, and notes describe the condition in plain terms; good photos let you see what the roofer saw. Notes cover the type and age of the covering and the state of each slope, together with the locations of any damage; it keeps the work focused on facts, not guesses. With Post-Storm Roof Inspection, the findings are on paper and not just in memory, and conditions can be tracked from one visit to the next. A close-up alone can be hard to place, so the finding can be located later; it can be read without the roofer present.
Triggers Worth Acting On: After the Weather Turns Rough
Once the snow is gone, a visit shows what the cold did, because ice can lift edges, crack seals and bend metal; dripping inside during a thaw is a prompt to call. Windy days can lift or strip shingles from a roof, so a visit after a bad blow is a sensible move; lifted edges are worth a photo. A strong summer thunderstorm can bruise shingles and knock off granules, and a visit after a storm is a good time to check the flashing too. Post-Storm Roof Inspection carried out soon after the event is easier to compare with earlier photos, and it avoids guessing about when the damage began; do not wait for a stain if you suspect damage. Freeze-thaw cycling is the quiet culprit, and an owner may not notice until a stain appears; metal expands and contracts at every joint.
When a Big Decision Is Coming, and the Roof Is Part of It
If you are buying, the age and condition of the roof matter, and a sound roof is a reason to relax; ask for the photos and the written summary. Sellers sometimes book a visit first so nothing comes as a shock, and small repairs can be handled before listing. Thinking about a new roof starts with knowing what the old one is doing, and the notes become a starting point for choosing materials; the survey also reveals deck repairs that would otherwise be a surprise.
The Written Summary: Plain Language, Plain Layout
A typical summary puts the findings on paper, and it usually opens with the address and the date of the visit; it ends with suggested next steps in plain language. A good summary from Post-Storm Roof Inspection is easy for anyone to follow: what was seen, where it was seen and how serious it looks; if anything is unclear, ask the roofer to explain it. Often the notes end with suggestions for repair, monitoring or replacement, and a good roofer separates what is needed from what is optional.
Getting Ready for the Visit, and a Few Questions
Give the roofer easy access to the yard, the ladder spots and the attic, and any past roof records are worth gathering; ask if the roofer needs anything else.
- Ask whether the roof, the attic and the gutters are all included, and how long it should take
- Find out whether you will get photos, and how the notes are organized
- Find out whether small repairs can be done on the spot, since you should never feel rushed
Find Out What Your Roof Needs, and Ask Anything
When you want facts about the roof, Post-Storm Roof Inspection is where to begin, and our team will keep it simple. Phone 412-858-8858 and we will take it from there, and have photos of any stains handy.
