Roof Inspection Damascus MD

Roof Inspection In Maryland

Not all roof inspections are created equal. Many factors such as material, slope, climate (the kinds of things you look for in Maryland will differ from Alaska or Texas), immediate surroundings such as foliage, age of roof, and general condition all just some of the key factors.

Many commercial roofing contractors offer free inspections. For many, it’s a way to generate a lead that could later be converted to a sale for a repair job or a new install.

Regardless of the motive, a proper inspection must include a number of steps to deliver an accurate assessment. They must:

• Identify the source(s) of your existing water or other problems if there are any
• Identify potential sources of future problems if ignored
• Propose viable and cost-effective solutions to address the issues
• Be able to explain the pros and cons of those solutions

Typical Roof Inspection Process

While you may have additional requirements for those you want to hire, this is a good starting point of things to look for in your roofing company.

1. Starts with talking to the owners and/or occupants. Are they aware of any existing leaks or other signs that could signal trouble? How often? How long has it been leaking? Walking them through a checklist of warning signals could help locate potential issues faster and more accurately.
2. Inspecting the internal system of the roof with care. The internal system of the roof would next be thoroughly examined and evaluated by a reputable commercial roof contractor. He/she will be searching for evidence of rust or water stains, structural flaws, visible corrosion or weaknesses. Known roof leaks should also be investigated within the building to determine the cause of the leak and the presence of any other concerns. This phase will help with not only early detection of any existing faults, but also with the direction of the remaining inspection.
3. The commercial roof inspector should do a broad check of the building structure before going to the roof’s top deck. The appearance of unusual flaws, such as fractures in architectural elements near corners, window openings, or doors, might indicate structural movement or issues. Of course, these elements will differ from one structure to the next. Any signs of water penetration along building elements, such as masonry, should be noted in order to determine if anything is amiss with the structure’s water drainage parts and system.
4. Examining the roof. Now is the time for the contractor to shift their focus on the building’s roof. The knowledge they acquired from the previous steps will be extremely useful here. A thorough inspection of the roof will start with a check for trash, pools of water, evidence of mistreatment, neglect, or wear-and-tear, and even vegetation.
5. Following the overall review, the roof boundary is next because that is where leaks and many other roofing issues typically manifest. Gutters and other parts of the system will be thoroughly inspected at this point. Following the completion of the boundary inspection, the main section of the roof is the next time on the list. Water pools can be an indication of inadequate or subpar roof design, construction, or age. If the roof has a coating such as EPDM, the membrane surface will be inspected.
6. Leaks can also be caused by machinery or peripherals that have been improperly mounted or are in rough shape. Other relevant regions such as drains, seals, flashing will be inspected.

After the Inspection

Once the inspection and analysis is complete, you’ll receive one of the following three recommendations: Repair, restore, or replace. The recommendation will depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to:

• your budget
• any internally or externally imposed deadline
• condition of the roof
• availability of appropriate matching roofing material
• severity of the damage
• size of the overall roof vs damaged area