Key Areas of a Roof That Require Periodic Inspection

It feels good to have a roof over your head protecting you from Melbourne’s unpredictable weather. For most people, it’s out of sight and out of mind, that is until something goes wrong. When it does, there’s a rush to get things fixed as quickly as possible before the problem becomes an emergency.

Even small problems can quickly become larger issues. A cracked tile or a blocked gutter can quickly lead to flooding or leaks into your home when a big Melbourne storm hits, especially the longer it’s left unaddressed. This is why periodic roof inspections are more than just a good idea.

Discovering wear and tear or minor issues before they become catastrophic. Xclusive Roofing can diagnose your issues and suggest repairs to keep the weather out. In this article, we will go through the key areas of your roof that are susceptible to wear and tear and what you can do to keep your home safe.

Why do you need a Regular Roof Inspection?

Regular inspection means there are no nasty surprises. Just like the dentist, a regular check-up flags issues now and potential issues in the future. This gives you time to plan and budget, or, address the issue now and save a possible more expensive fix in the future.

Regular inspection can check on any recent repairs you may have had to ensure they’ve taken hold and are not in need of more repair. Our team are roofing experts and guarantee our work, but reassurance can often feel good to have.

Early detection of a problem, and not waiting until the problem manifests, can help extend the life of your roof. It can also save a lot of money on other repair work. If you don’t get your roof checked until there is a leak into your home, then not only are you repairing your roof tiles, you’re also possibly repainting your interior, and other repairs as well.

It may also be a requirement of insurance companies that your roof is regularly inspected to maintain your current premium. This is another way of saving you money, since being uninsured for your home can be expensive if, say, a tree branch fell onto your roof.

Ultimately, regular check ups of your roof help manage repair costs. You can budget a lot easier and not have any nasty, expensive surprises pop up, nor have snowballing costs. Water leaking into your home? That can be because of a cracked tile, which leads to worn out mortar which leads to mould or rot in the wood, and so on.

How Often Do You Need a Roof Inspection?

We recommend a roofing inspection at least every twelve months, two years at the longest. If you have an older home, or you have many overhanging trees, checking every six months after the winter and summer seasons is suggested.

If you’ve gone through a major weather event such as a big storm or high winds, you should have your roof inspected to see if any damage happened during this event.

It is also a good idea to inspect your roof for any issues prior to selling your home. You don’t want dollars knocked off your preferred sale price because there are cracked tiles that need to be attended to.

If you notice bubbling in your wallpaper or paint inside your home, stains on the ceiling, or if your roof is sagging, you need an immediate inspection. One of those small things you may not have noticed could have just become a big issue that needs an emergency repair.

What Areas Of Your Roof Do We Inspect?

While you may call for an inspection because you notice some tiles are cracked, our team at Xclusive Roofing will inspect your entire roof for any problems. You don’t want someone just inspecting and fixing the ridge capping, only to find out later that the capping issue had led to water damage inside your roof cavity.

External Roof

Our team will look at your tiles and shingles, looking for cracks, any broken elements, tiles that have slipped or even missing tiles.

If you have metal sheeting we’ll inspect for rust and corrosion, warped sheets or any popped fasteners or nails.

Your ridge capping needs to be sealed with good mortar. The caps need to be secure, not loose, and they must be free of cracks.

We will also check for moss and algae over all of your external roof surfaces.

Internal Roof

Inside your roof cavity, underneath the tiles, we look for sagging or cracks or any other sign of distress in the rafters and trusses holding your roof aloft.

We also look for water stains and other signs that water has made it into your roof cavity. If left unattended these will grow into bigger issues.

The insulation and ventilation systems that you have, including ducted heating and cooling, we make sure they’re dry, and that moisture is not building up and causing mould to form.

Flashings and Sealants

We inspect the seals around chimneys, skylights and any vents you have, the antenna on your roof, to see if there are any cracks or gaps in the sealant.

We check any metal valleys and joint seams for rust or lifting from the base.

Gutters and Drainpipes

Our guys check for build up of leaves and twigs or the odd, lost ball in your gutter. We look for blockages, rust in the gutters, and check the waterflow is not impeded in any way.

We ensure the downpipes are secure and sealed up the top, so no water leaks out. We check for rust or other water damage, and to see that they are secured into the ground. We also check for blockages and clear as much as we can.

The Edges

Our inspection includes fascias and eaves, to see if there is any rotting wood, peeling paint or other damage under the gutter line.

We also check to see if there has been any pest break-ins or other damage that could potentially let the outside world in.

Other Inspection Zones

The highly trained team at Xclusive Roofing will do a survey around your house for potential problems with trees and overhanging branches.

We will also confirm that your drains and downpipes all connect to stormwater drainage so you don’t get potential flooding issues when the next big downpour hits.

What Common Roof Issues Are We Looking For?

There are some signs that our team looks for that indicate common issues with your roof. If you notice any of these signs yourself, then you should give our guys a call to inspect your roof as soon as possible.

If you notice:

• Brown stains. Staining on your ceiling or walls, bubbling paint or dampness in your roof cavity, is often a sign of water leaks. This can be through cracked tiles or failing sealant around chimneys and vents.
• Cracked or warped shingles. Sometimes you can see this from the ground, but if you notice you’re missing tiles, or some of them are cracked, these can be caused by impacts from branches falling on your home, or storm damage. Sometimes, it can also be from thermal expansion, where they expand during the heat of the day and contract during the cold of the night.
• Overflowing gutters. This is often a sign of blocked gutters. Leaving your gutters unattended can lead to rusting or sagging gutters from the mass of debris inside them. Water can also back up under the roofing tiles when the blockage is too severe.
• Moss and Algae. If you can see green or black staining on your tiles, especially in areas where your roof is under shade, this can be moss or algae. Unfortunately moss and algae hold moisture, which can lead to accelerated rot and decay of your roofing.
• A visible dip. Can you see a sag in your roof line? This is a sign of structural damage and can be due to excessive weight from water and debris, damaged support beams or possibly your house sinking due to foundation issues, which we can advise on, but cannot solve for you.

What can Xclusive Roofing Do For You?

Inspection and Assessment. Our team of experienced roofers have inspected hundreds if not thousands of homes and roofs, and can inspect yours as well. We look for minor problems and major structural issues, we can test for durability and waterproofing and produce a comprehensive report for you once we’re done.

Roof Repairs.  Once we have identified any problems that need urgent attention we can get down to the business of repairing your roof. We have an extensive network of trades and suppliers, and can match new tiles with your existing tile colour and profile. We can repair damaged materials on your roof, reseal vents and replace broken tiles.

Roof Restoration. The next step beyond patching and repairing, we can restore your entire roof to new. We fix all visible issues and any troubles hiding beneath the surface. We revitalise your roof and reinvigorate it to protect you from the weather and more.

Roof Replacement. Otherwise known as ‘reroofing’, we remove the entire existing roof and install a new one. This gives you a roof that is free of any structural issue, blockages or cracking.

Preventative Maintenance. We can set up a scheduled maintenance with you so we can inspect your roof and keep it in top shape. We can regularly clean your gutters and do periodic reports to make sure your roof stays in the best condition possible.

Keep Your Roof in The Best Shape Possible

Your roof works hard every day to protect you from the elements. Giving it a little attention, an inspection at least every twelve months, will go a long way to keeping it in peak condition. The sooner you can catch a ‘small problem’ the quicker it can be fixed and not  turn into an emergency.

Xclusive Roofing takes the guesswork out of roof maintenance. We fully inspect your roof, the sidings, gutters and inside your roof cavity, and produce a detailed report and a free quote to fix anything we find.

If it’s been more than a year since you had your roof checked, or there has been a big storm and you’ve noticed something different up there, give the team at Xclusive Roofing a call- 03 5978 6473 and we’ll come around and check it out.

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