How important is it to get my roof inspected for storm damage?
The basic purpose of a roof inspection is to examine the roof closely to determine the condition of the roof. The inspection will determine whether it would be valuable to replace the entire roof or to
repair a specific area damaged by a storm (or to report that the roof is in excellent condition). Sometimes, a few quick and small repairs can result in the entire roof lasting several more years without the need for major repairs or replacement, plus prevent the development of leaks that would have led to the need for
water damage restoration and even mold remediation services. (To learn more about the details of the process, click here: what happens when we will inspect your roof?).
How important is the roof to everything under it?
Further, keep in mind that the roof itself is not the only issue. Your roof is your first layer of defense against hail, rain,
wind, and extreme temperatures. Everything under the roof is protected by the roof, right?
So, how important to you is what is under the roof? That is how important the roof is to you! Think of it like this: if a tree fell in to your roof, would you prefer for the roof to completely collapse or to simply get a big dent?
Basically, if there is even a small, slow roof leak, then that can lead to water damage, the rotting of wood, and contamination by mold. Further, if there is ever a major leak from the roof, then naturally the interior of the building will flood, leading to the urgent need for extensive damage restoration and remodeling services.
Why does my insurance company want the roof to be inspected so often?
In the event that potential major repairs can be prevented by a small, quick repair, your insurance company may be very eager to solve a big water damage problem by preventing the damage from ever starting. That is why many repairs to your roof will be covered by your homeowner's insurance (whether or not the manufacturer's warranty on the roofing will help pay for the repair of your roof).
So, the roof inspection will be useful to assess which repairs are likely to be covered for free (either with absolutely no cost to the homeowner or after they cover the annual deductible amount for their home owner's insurance). To read our full article focusing on how often you should have your specific type of roof inspected, click here: How often should I have a roof inspection at my home in Arizona?.
What if the inspection shows there is no urgent need for roof repairs?
What a relief, right? In some cases, the contractor inspecting the roof will determine that there are no priority repairs needed. In that case, an assessment can be made about when to plan the next routine roof inspection (assuming that there is no
storm or hail damage to the roof prior to that time). Also, for roofs that have regular maintenance requirements, such as a new layer of coating, then a roof inspection that does not find any urgent repair needs can at least provide a more precise estimate of when to schedule the next routine maintenance activities.
