What Do Roofing Inspectors Consider Before Recommending Roof Restoration?

In these tough economic times, it is often better to give your roof a new lease of life (by restoring it) instead of replacing it altogether. However, that decision to restore or replace is not entirely based on monetary considerations alone. A roofing inspector has to assess your roof in order to suggest the best remedy for it. This article discusses some factors that the roof inspector pays attention to before recommending roof restoration or replacement.

The Condition Of The Substrate

A roof substrate refers to the underlying solid substance upon which the roofing material or waterproofing adheres. The roof inspector will check to establish the integrity of this substrate. For instance, he or she will check to see if there is any water trapped between the substrate and the roofing material. Any water found in this area may signal that restoration is not a good idea since the substrate has been weakened by water infiltration. The inspector will also consider the age of the substrate relative to its expected lifespan. The longer the substrate has before the end of its useful life, the better it will be to restore the roof instead of replacing it.

The Maintenance History Of The Roof

The roof inspector will also evaluate how well you have been maintaining your roof in the past. This information can be gained by looking at the maintenance records of the home as well as carrying out an inspection of the roof. If the roof was well maintained, its structures—such as the waterproofing and trusses—will be in very good condition so roof restoration would be appropriate. Roof maintenance activities include keeping roof drains free from debris so that water will not form pools on the roof as well as checking the roof sealant that protects the roof from UV radiation. If the roof was poorly maintained, the structures holding it up will have been exposed to various forces like water damage so it would be unwise to restore such a roof.

The Climate Of The Area

Extremes of climate (such as high humidity or very high temperatures) cause roofs to age quickly. The inspector will assess how long the roof can last in that climate if it is restored in comparison to the cost of replacing that roof. If the climate of your area is very cold or very hot, the inspector may ask you to replace that roof, especially if other factors discussed earlier are not favourable to roof restoration.

As you can see, a lot of thought goes into making the decision to advise you to either restore or replace your roof. That is why you should pick a highly experienced roof inspector to inspect your roof and advise you accordingly.