Check The Roof, Porch And Deck
It is quite important that the roof is checked during home inspections. Normally the access to the roof is through the attic, but in certain cases, home inspectors arrange for extension or folding ladders to get on the roof for their home inspections. Roofs are inspected in several ways. Home inspectors, typically, walk out onto the roof for their inspections. Where it is not possible to walk out on a roof, in case it is made of old slate and may be damaged, or cause harm to the inspector, the roof inspection is carried out from a level higher than the roof, such as a window, or by climbing the ladder at the eaves.
The roofs are made from a number of materials, such as wood, slate, cement, among others, and need to be inspected accordingly.
Deck And Porch
The porch and the decks of homes also need to be checked out during home inspections. Inspections are carried out to look for deterioration or damage to the railings and stairs. Wooden railings surrounding decks or porches need to be inspected for wood rot, chipping and peeling of paint, among other things.
Many people install screen on porches, to keep away insects, and to allow for extra privacy. If the home you are considering has screens on the porches, check to see the condition of the screens. The screens on the porches are continuously exposed to different weather conditions, and can be adversely affected by it. Check to see whether the screens are in good condition or will require repairs or replacement. The home inspection report will address the issue.
Roof
During inspection, the roof should be checked to see whether the shingles are damaged, whether there are any missing shingles, holes or wear. If the roof is flat and of hot asphalt, check to see when it was last resealed. Normally such roofs need to be resealed every three years, and the seller should be able to provide evidence of this, through contracts and bills/receipts.
Roof penetrations, such as chimneys and flashing need to be inspected for penetrations. While up there, the roof gutters can also be inspected for blockage, which can lead to damage from water. If you find trees very near the roof, there is a need to check for damage caused by the branches. More over, the nearness of the trees can cause the squirrels and raccoons to penetrate the holes etc in the roof, and cause damage to the attic.
Wood is quite a popular material for roof and the inspection needs to look at any water damaged caused to the wood. Due to the lack of fire resistance of wood roof, check to see if the wood has been pressure treated to achieve a class-C rating. Check to see if there is adequate air circulation under the wood roof. If the roof is sloped, is it steep enough for the water to run off easily? Normally a minimum of 4 inches per foot or 33% slope is adequate.
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