Roof inspections are inspections designed to determine the integrity of a roof, how long it may last, and when it will likely need to be replaced.  A roof inspection can be part of a general home inspection or can be requested independent of any other inspections.  Proper maintenance is the key to a roofs longevity. A roof inspection is critical in determining what maintenance may need to be performed, and is a must do for every homeowner and every homebuyer. Roofing systems can weaken from normal wear, severe weather conditions, building settlement and poor design, construction and maintenance, and failures can be caused by a number of additional factors, including age, severe weather, poor workmanship, defective or low quality materials, improper specification of a roofing system, abuse and poor maintenance.

Roof inspectors are not likely to climb up on your roof or the roof of a home you are thinking of buying, and move shingles or tiles.  Roof inspectors have special procedures wherein they can determine the lifespan of a given roof without damaging and tearing into it.  Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roof covering in residential constructions and are available in several different grades.  Roof tiles are made from various different materials such as clay, concrete, synthetic, metal or slate. Roof flashings are required on all the places on your roof where various surfaces intersect.
 

The roof framing, roof sheathing and roof covering all must be built, planned and installed to resist wind pressures and the elements.  Roof decks which have been installed with large nails and close spacing, along with the deck attachments and fasteners should be strengthened, secured and or corrected where needed. Some roofs can be pitched at very steep angles and pose quite a challenge to those which are fearful of heights. Roof restoration can add as many as 10 years to the useful life of an existing roof, and costs considerably less than roofing replacement.  Roofs generally don't last their design life, but with proactive inspections and scheduled maintenance, you can ensure that you'll beat the odds, with a roofing system that lasts beyond its normal life cycle.

In conclusion, roof leaks can cause serious damage to the interior wall and floor surfaces of any structure and can create a major disruption for any property owner.  Often starting long before they show up at the interior of the structure, leaks are obviously a big problem in any home, but realizing the correlation between roof leaks and structural damage to a parcel of real estate can help you to prevent one of the major problems that many homes face. There are at least three very good reasons to obtain a roof inspection, maintaining a roof; adding years to the life expectancy of the roof, locating any damage that may have occurred during a recent storm, and protecting your investment if you're buying a new home. A roof inspection is certainly of the utmost importance when anyone is in the market for buying or selling a home.