What To Look For In A Roof When Buying A House

There are many aspects of a house that you must look at before deciding to buy it; and one of the biggest things to look at in a house is its roof.

Have you found the home of your dreams?

That’s fantastic, but before you even think about making an offer, you need to ensure it’s up to your standards. The roof is an essential part of your home and you want to ensure its in good condition before you buy.

Here’s what you should be looking for in a roof before you buy.

 

Why Is The Roof So Important?

There are so many things you need to check about a home before you buy it, why is the roof so important? Shortly, because without it, your home has no protection. If a roof isn’t in good condition, that means that it’s at risk of all sorts of damage.

The biggest issue is that of water damage. If water gets into your roof, it’ll cause a whole variety of issues.

• Mold can form, which creates health issues.
• Water will start dripping through the rest of the home, causing damage to your ceilings, walls and more.
• Rot can set in in the roof beams, and if its left unchecked it could even mean you need to pay out for a new roof.

None of these issues are simple to fix, and they’ll all cost money to deal with. If you’ve just bought your home, the last thing you want to do is deal with spending more money to fix these problems. If you check a roof over before you buy, you’re ensuring that there won’t be any problems you have to address as soon as you’ve moved in.

 

How To Check A Roof

You can do this a couple of different ways. You can see some roof damage, such as missing roof shingles, for yourself, from the ground. However, to get a full and comprehensive idea of the state of the roof, you’ll need an expert.

Firstly, you can hire a roofer yourself to check the roof out for you. They’ll get on the roof to take a good look at it from the outside, as well as getting into the attic to see if any damage has occurred inside it. They’ll then give you a full report of what condition the roof is in, and what they would recommend for it should you buy the home.

You may also find that the current home owner has had a report done on the roof, ready for any prospective home buyer. If they have done this, ask to see it and read over it carefully. You’re looking for any issues that will need to be addressed in the near future, in order to keep the home safe from damage.

 

What To Look For In a Roof Before Buying a Home

So, if you’re having the roof inspected, what you should you be looking for? Here’s a list of what issues you want to avoid or have fixed before you move in.

You’ll also see some things that you want to be done to the roof too, before you hand over your cash.

 

1. Missing or Broken Shingles

This is an issue that you’ll be able to see from the ground, and it’s not the worst issue if its caught quickly. If there are any tiles or shingles that are missing or broken, that means that they’re leaving the roof vulnerable to water damage. After every storm that comes through, home owners should be checking roofs to ensure that all shingles are accounted for.

If there are any missing shingles, then you can ask that they’re replaced before you buy. Most roofers recommend that home owners keep an extra box of shingles when they have their roof replaced, as then if a shingle goes missing, it’s easy to grab a replacement and fix the problem. If the current home owners have done this, you’re in luck.

 

2. Blocked Guttering

This is another issue that should be fixed quickly before it causes any issues. Ask your roofer if there’s any debris sitting in the gutters. If there is, it’s a sign that water may be getting backed up out of the gutters, and getting into the roof. This causes problems over time as water isn’t being guided away from the roof itself.

If the problem is solved quickly, then you shouldn’t see any problems with it. It’s easy to simply pull the debris out with your hands, to stop it happening again, you can install a gutter guard to keep the debris out and the water flowing freely.

 

3. Water Stains

A sure sign there’s a leak somewhere in the house is a water stain. You’re most likely to find them on the ceilings in the upstairs rooms of the home.

Even if the current home owner has tried to cover these up, there are ways of finding out if there has been a leak.

• If there’s a smell of fresh paint, that’s a sure sign that the stains have been painted over.
• You’ll also find out if there’s a leak when your roofer comes to inspect the roof. They’ll get into the attic to take a look at it, and they’ll soon see if there’s water coming through.

 

4. Roof Age

As well as you take care of your roof, at some point it will need to be replaced. An ageing roof isn’t going to protect your home as well as a newer one, so at some point you will need to replace it. The average roof will last up to 50 years, depending on the materials used to make the roof.

When you’re considering making an offer on a home, make sure you ask how old the roof is. The older it is, the more likely it is you’ll need to do repairs or replace it entirely. You may want to build the cost of a new roof into your budget if you’re set on buying a home with an older roof.

 

Conclusion

Make sure you’re looking for these signs when you’re looking at a particular home to buy. If you’re up to date on what to expect as a buyer, you’ll get a home with a roof that’s in good condition, ready for you to move in.