Many people upon realizing that their roof is leaking or getting older may immediately begin thinking of a roof replacement. What they may not realize, however, that there is often a lot more to it than that. Sometimes the roof just needs repairs or a partial reroofing, other times there are already multiple layers of shingles that must come off, driving up the cost of the roof replacement. Therefore, in order to get the most realistic idea of what to expect, have a roof inspection done before you replace the roof.

What Is a Roof Inspection?

There are two basic types of roof inspections. One you perform yourself as part of your yearly roof maintenance; scanning the roof for signs of damage and potential problems you can fix before they become a major issue(and the need in roof replacement). The other type of roof inspection is carried out by a professional roofer. During this inspection, the roofer checks for signs of damage that you may not be aware of, such as rusting or missing flashing, hail damage, or soggy shingles that have water trapped beneath them.

During the roof inspection, your roofer can also determine things like:

How many layers of shingles are currently on the roof and whether a new layer can be placed on top of an old, or whether they all need to be stripped off during the reroofing or roof replacement

The condition of the roof deck beneath the shingles, and whether there has been water and mold damage that require it to be replaced as well

How much attic ventilation you have; attic ventilation plays an important role in the condition of your roof since a super heated attic can transfer some of that heat to your roof, shortening the lifespan of your shingles

Whether the entire roof needs to be done at once or whether there is still a few years left in certain sections that can help you spread out the cost of the work

Why You Should Have a Roof Inspection Carried Out

Having a roof inspection done before you go ahead and place a new order for shingles is a crucial step in the roof replacement process. In addition to being able to spot problems that you may not have been aware of, the roofer can now let you know several other factors including:

An accurate cost of roof replacement: You don’t want the roofer to get up there and start the reroofing only to discover more damage than was quoted for.

The timeline and scope of the job: You now can have an accurate idea not only of how much the job will cost you, but how long it will take, and whether a partial reroofing now and one in the future is in order

How much and what type of material is needed: Shingles are just one part of the equation; underlayments, ice dams, and flashing all factor into the process

Get Your Roof Inspected

If you’re aware that a roof replacement is in your future, don’t hesitate to get a roof inspection done first. This will give you the most accurate pricing so you can better budget for your new roof, and helps ensure the job gets done right the first time.