The weather forecast for the Twin Cities this week is pretty nasty, but once things are back to warm and dry, if you own a home here in the area you'll probably get back outdoors doing exterior home and yard maintenance. Gutter clean-out should be on your list, and so should scheduling a roof inspection.

Reasons to Get a Roof Inspection Done

Having an inspection of the roof should be done before you purchase a home so you know its condition. But it should also be done periodically while you own it. If you were wondering why this is such an important thing to do, we are going to tell you some of the reasons why you should have this done regularly.

First of all, the condition of your roof is important. It protects the rest of the house from the weather and other outside threats. When the roof is damaged, it is not able to do the job it was meant to do.

A second reason is to make sure the warranty for your roofing material remains in force. Some roofing manufacturers require a periodic inspection to keep the warranty active. If you're not sure, you should review the warranty that came with your roof. If you don't have it, you should probably assume its required.

General recommendations are that if you have an asphalt or composite shingle roof or a wood shake roof, you should have it inspected at least every three years.  We also recommend an inspection after severe weather like a tornado, a hailstorm that produces large pellets, or after a particularly harsh winter like the one we just had.

A Roof Inspector Can Discover Unseen Damage

You cannot see most of your roof from the ground. And even what you can see you're viewing from a distance. This means you need a professional to go up there and take a look. When they do, they might just come across damage you didn’t know about to begin with.

Detect Leaks Before They Become Major

You may not have known that there are spots in your roof causing slow water leaks. It's not uncommon for water to seep into the attic and soak insulation or drywall, resulting in some major damage before it's even detected. Often when a ceiling begins to leak, the water has been coming in for some time.

Roofing Contractors Offer Free Quotes with an Inspection

When a roofing company inspects your roof, they should also give you a quote for any repairs they recommend. You may just need some simple fixes, or it could be something more extensive. The roof inspector might even recommend a completely new roof and you may not have known your roof was in trouble until they’re up there doing the inspection.

Having your roof inspected regularly is the safest approach in taking care of it. Most roofing professionals won't charge for the inspection, especially if they installed the roof. They can let you know what materials are best to use and give their honest, professional opinions.

One final note on inspections following bad weather. Insurance companies will reject claims where roof damage can't be easily connected with a recent storm. That means the longer you wait, the harder it may be to get a claim paid. Having your roof inspected as soon as soon as possible after a storm is over could mean the difference between your insurance company paying for the repairs or you having to foot the bill.

Wondering about the state of your roof? If it's been awhile since yours has been looked at, give us a call here and we would be more than happy to come out and take a look at the roof and provide a comprehensive inspection.

Quarve Contracting, Inc. is a licensed Minnesota roofing company serving the entire Twin Cities metro area.  We specialize in metal roofing, but we inspect and install other types of roofs as well.