Basics of Virginia Roof Inspection
When was the last time you checked your roof? If you were like everyone else, you would not have gone up and do actual inspection and repair until such time that water starts dripping from your ceiling. Roofing work is expensive and the condition of the roof should always require a thorough examination of a roof inspector.
Frequent roof inspection is an effective means in maintaining your roof. Your house roof will only last so long that once it begins to leak, you might become a victim of flooding and other related problems. Since prevention is always better than cure, have your roof inspected at least twice per year and every after a major storm.
A comprehensive roof examination should be conducted by an experienced roof inspector or a licensed home inspector. A roof inspector walks on the roof and conducts visual examination of all its aspects, both interior and exterior. If you have a steep roof or covering made of fragile slate or cedar shakes, the inspector should still closely examine the condition of your roofing and avoid using binoculars from the ground.
Among the first to be examined by an assessor include the chimneys, gutters, dormers, pipe vents, and crickets. Roof surfacing material is also closely inspected. After the exterior is examined, a roofing inspection from inside the structure is also undertaken. The home inspector checks the condition of the sheathing, interior chimney surfaces, roof braces, fasteners, and support materials. Assessors also inspect roofs for brittleness and surface deterioration in the case of old roofs.
Aside from regular home-care maintenance, people employ roof inspectors when they are buying a house and want to check out if everything is in proper condition before pushing through with the deal. Roofs are checked to identify signs of deterioration, to find out if the roofing structure is functioning properly, and to spot if any repairs are necessary. It also easily addresses common roof problems like blistering due to trapped vapor, open laps around flashing because of poor adhesives, exposed nail heads, loose flashing, and dark patches (for shingles).
If you are buying or selling your house, you should consult a home inspector. For buyers, hiring a home inspector helps in bargaining with the seller regarding the price of the property, especially if there are major faults found on the said house. For the seller, assessing the condition of the house gives them a chance to have it repaired before putting the house on sale. In Virginia, inspectors offer comprehensive property inspection handled by experienced and licensed professionals.
For those who are on the business of rental property, before you actually buy units for rent, you may want to find a home and roof assessor and have the house checked professionally.
A home inspection can cost be costly and will take three to five hours for the entire process depending on the size of the house. Make sure to schedule your roof maintenance before water starts dripping from your ceiling.
The Benefits of Tile Roofing in Virginia
Traditional roofing still has some appeal to the modern homeowners. Tile roofing, which is a European or Mediterranean style, for example, is becoming increasingly popular in North America. What modern roofing products do today is they copy traditional clay tiles in the timeless curved design. Flat tiles for instance, imitate the appearance of expensive slate roofing. Basically, tiles are made out of either kiln-baked glazed ceramic or cast in concrete and they are being offered in many color options. Overall, tile roofs offer a highly durable roofing solution with beautiful, estate-quality old world appeal.
Talking about the durability of tile roof shingles – high quality ceramic tile can stand in just about any climate condition or geographical location. This is because ceramic is thermally efficient and a good insulator thus, a tile made out of this material can definitely last for centuries if it is baked at a sufficiently high temperature. On the other hand, cast concrete, in any form, gets stronger as it gets older. Usually, they are offered with a lifetime warranty. Moreover, they are not prone to insect, rot, or sun damage, and because its heavy, it can resist wind damage unless extreme conditions exist. So, a roofing made of either of these two materials can be fire proof, durable and long lasting.
Tile roof shingles are made available in many colors and designs to choose from. Usually, concrete and clay tiles have more variations in appearance and profiles ranging from the traditional European -Mediterranean look to modern slate. If you decide on using tiles for your roofing, you’ll certainly get a high curb appearance to the overall look of your roof. Actually, ceramic tiles and concrete versions are much heavier than asphalt. They can weigh from 6 to 9 lbs. per square foot depending on the product.
So, to achieve a beautiful old world look of roofing with the convenience of a durable, one-time roofing installation, opt for ceramic tile or concrete roof shingles.
What Happens When a Virginia Roof Doesn’t Have Proper Ventilation?
One of the most important aspects of the way your Virginia roof is designed and built is proper ventilation. You simply cannot over-estimate its importance. What happens when a roof doesn’t have proper ventilation? Improper ventilation allows formation of condensation, moisture accumulation, and damage to the roof deck and, eventually, to the stability of the roof. Improper roof ventilation can also affect the health of your family.
The industry standard for roof ventilation to provide 1 square foot of intake ventilation and 1 square foot of exhaust or outflow ventilation for every 300 square feet of attic space, provided the area is insulated with a vapor barrier. If the area is insulated without a vapor barrier, the requirement doubles.
Proper ventilation of the roof and attic of a home achieves several important functions:
- It makes the attic space cooler
- It makes the home more energy efficient
- It prevents condensation and accumulation of moisture on the inside of the roof deck, and prevents rotting of the roof deck
- It reduces the risk of fire
Several types of vents can be used to properly ventilate the roof of your home. Roof ridge vents are placed along the ridge line of the roof. Ridge vents are used for exhaust or outflow of moisture, heat, and stale air. Soffit vents and Eaves are placed at the lower extremes of the roof and provide the intake ventilation. If you live in an older home, your roof might not be constructed for roof ridge or soffit vents. Older homes were not built with the tight seals of today’s houses. There were cracks and openings around windows and doors, chimneys and other openings. These cracks and openings allowed fresh air to flow into the house. On the principle that hot air rises, the accumulated heat and moisture would rise to the attic and out the roof vents.
Without adequate ventilation, moisture rises with the hot air and forms condensation on the inside of the roof deck. This moisture is released into the air inside the house from bathing, cooking, plants, laundry and other causes. When the condensation forms on the roof deck, it begins to rot the wood. This introduces mold spores into the air, as well as damaging the wood. The result, if the problem is not noticed and repaired, can be destruction of all or part of the roof deck and creation of unhealthy air inside the house.
In our increasingly airtight homes, the importance of proper ventilation in roof construction cannot be over-emphasized. It is important to take the time and do the research to understand the ventilation needs for your home in your region and how best to meet those needs.