Are you curious to find out what is a roof certification? You will find out that it is incredibly practicable and necessary in many ways.
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What is a roof certification, and why do you need to get it?
A roof certification is a piece of document that guarantees that the roof is in fantastic working order, has no defects, and does not need repair for a specific period.
If you are searching for a new home to purchase, the first thing you need to find out is if it has a roof certification. Having one will give you peace of mind that the roofing is in excellent condition.
If you are on the other side of the transaction and the one selling your home, you will need to have your roof certified because it implies it is in fantastic working order and does not need to be fixed or replaced in the coming years.
Potential buyers of your home will want to see if you have a roof certification because if the time comes when the roof needs repairs, they would not need to pay for it.
As a buyer, you can tell the real estate agent to include a roof certification as part of the contract, and it will undoubtedly benefit you in the long run. Having it part of the contract will ensure that the roof does not have any defects and you do not have to replace it soon.
A licensed roofing inspector is the one that issues a roof certification. The inspector carefully looks over and scrutinizes a particular roof and looks for any flaws or defects.
The inspector will also determine how long the roof will last without the need to replace or repair. The length of time is different each time, but one to two years usually, and in some situations even up to five years.
In many situations, a roof certification can act as a warranty for a roofing company that does the repairs. For instance, if the roof starts to leak during the time of certification, the company will repair it at no cost.
What happens during a roof certification inspection?
When a roof certification happens, it is for insurance. The roofing inspector carefully looks over and scrutinizes the roofing system on a particular home.
The entire inspection usually does not take long, about thirty minutes to one hour. After the inspector is finished, he will bring his findings on the roof’s condition to the home insurance provider.
In some circumstances, a roof inspection is only needed when the insurance provider judges that a particular member’s roof will have to be replaced soon.
Here is what usually happens during a typical roof inspection for certification. And a roofing inspector will report to the insurance provider of the following information:
- The inspector has a document that necessitates information about a particular roof, like how old it is, if any repairs have been done if there is proof of replacement, the type of roof, and the approximated longevity.
- The inspector will then report about the roof’s damages, repairs, and leaks.
The reasoning for the report is for the insurance provider to establish the entire status of the roof and how long it can last. The whole report is about three to four pages, including pictures of each roof plane.
What is the process of roof inspection done by licensed roofing inspectors?
- The inspector first takes different pictures of all the areas above and underneath the roof.
- The inspector will also look for leaks, damages, and many other defects.
- The inspector will go to the attic and look for any leaks or water encroachments, and will also take photos.
- The inspector will look for staining in the inside ceilings.
- The inspector will determine the age of the roof. It will depend on the roofing material and the weather condition in your area.
- The inspector will look if repairs were done previously. He will need to determine if any fixings made were done correctly and will not cause problems in the future.
- The inspector will check if there were new roofing added over the existing one. Some rooftops can only bear a few layers of reroofing and might lead to damages.
- The inspector also looks at the roof downspouts and gutters for any signs of impairment.
- Lastly, the inspector will check on the inside of the house and look for any stains, mold, water pooling, or any water-related damages.
What will the insurance provider look for?
Once the roofing inspector garnered all the information about a particular roof and brought it to the insurance company, they will consider all the details and determine the next course of action.
A typical home insurance provider will prefer about three to five years left for the roof’s effectiveness.
If the inspector reports that the roof has undergone some wear and tear and has less than three years left in its lifespan, the company will probably ask for it to be replaced.
Does your home need a roof certification if it has already undergone a home inspection?
A home inspection is not as thorough as a roof certification inspection. It is only perfunctory and does not locate any problems with the roof.
While a roof certification is done by a professional roofing inspector, whose job is to look for any defects in a particular roof, and provides means to get the roof repaired in due course before giving a certification.
Will a roof certification give a guarantee to homeowners?
A roof certification is a dependable procedure is accomplished by a professional and licensed roof inspector.
Yet, there is no guarantee that the roof will not have any issues at the time of certification. Rather, if the inspector finds any leaks, they can be repaired immediately by a contractor.
Conclusion
If you are a homeowner in need of a roof certification inspection, make sure you hire a professional roofing inspector.
Inspectors are supposed to have no biases and only do their required inspecting job. However, some are biased and have ulterior motives. And want to sell you a new roof to earn more money.