Roof Inspection in Linden, NJ

When to get a roof inspection

• After a major storm, even if nothing looks wrong from the ground
• Before buying a home, so you know whether you're looking at a $500 repair or a $15,000 roof in the next few years
• Before selling, so you can fix problems before the buyer's inspector finds them and uses them to negotiate
• When the roof is 15 years or older, to plan and budget ahead
• When you notice stains, drafts, ice dams or high energy bills
• Before a big project like solar panels - you don't want to remove panels in five years to replace the roof

What a roofer checks

On the roof:

• Shingle condition: cracking, curling, granule loss, missing or lifted shingles
• Flashing at chimneys, walls, valleys, skylights and vents
• Pipe boots and roof vents
• Ridge caps and roof edges
• Gutters, drip edge and fascia boards
• Any flat or low-slope sections

In the attic:

• Water staining, wet insulation or mold on the underside of the roof deck
• Daylight showing through
• Ventilation at the eaves and ridge
• Insulation level and whether bathroom fans vent outside or just into the attic
• Sagging rafters or soft decking

What you should get afterwards

Ask for photos and a short written summary that covers the overall condition, any problems found, an estimate of remaining life, and what each repair would cost. That report is useful for planning, for an insurance claim after a storm, and for buyers and sellers during a home sale.

Roof inspections and home sales

A general home inspector usually looks at the roof from the ground, a ladder or a drone. That's useful, but it's not the same as a roofer walking the roof and checking the attic. If the home inspection flags the roof as "near end of life" or "evidence of past leaks", a roofer's inspection will tell you what that really means and what it would cost to deal with - which can make a real difference in a negotiation.

Simple checks you can do yourself

• Look at the roof from across the street with binoculars for missing or curling shingles
• Check gutters and downspout outlets for heavy granule build-up
• After a heavy rain, check the ceilings on the top floor and inside closets
• Peek into the attic on a sunny day - any light coming through is a problem