When purchasing a new home, there are many aspects of the house that one must look at before deciding to buy. And while many buyers pay attention to details inside the house, they often overlook the roof.
Since the roof is one of the house’s most essential structures, it is crucial to make sure it is in good condition. Failing to inspect the roof can lead to all sorts of damage in the future. For instance, if water has leaked into the roof, it can lead to mold, drips in the ceilings, and rot. And the last thing a new homeowner wants is to deal with are problems the previous owner was responsible for.
By checking the roof for the following issues, you can rest assured that you won’t have to deal with roofing problems as soon as you move in.
Missing or Broken Shingles
By inspecting the roof from the ground up, you will most likely see if any shingles are broken or missing. If they are, this means the roof will be vulnerable to water damage once you move in.
Therefore, this is a problem that should be taken care of as soon as possible, ideally before you move in. As a homebuyer, you can either insist on a shingle roof replacement before purchasing the home or negotiate a lower price if you’re left to deal with the issue yourself.
Gutter Problems
Gutters are a crucial part of any roofing system and can cause many issues if not functioning properly. Therefore, take note of the condition of the gutters – are they damaged, old, or blocked with debris?
Old or damaged gutters that are not diverting water away from home are a more serious issue and they should have to be replaced or repaired as soon as possible.
A gutter that is blocked by debris can also cause issues if the blockage is not taken care of. But luckily, this is not a significant issue as a good residential gutter cleaning service will ensure the water will be diverted away from the home.
As the new homeowner, you might want to consider a gutter guard installation to keep the debris out and have the water flowing freely. A simple solution like this can spare you time on maintenance and avoid risking an overflowing gutter.
Water Stains
When walking through the home that interests you, make sure to take note of the ceiling’s condition. Water stains are most likely to show up on the upstairs rooms’ ceilings if there is a leakage in the roof.
A smell of fresh paint in the upstairs room might indicate that the stains have been painted over to cover up the problem. However, the best way to make sure you are not buying a home with a leaking roof is to hire a professional roofer for a Jackson TN roof inspection. A professional roofer will tell you if the roof is leaking somewhere by doing a thorough roof inspection.
Aging Roof
When purchasing a new home, it is crucial to ask how old the roof is. Depending on the roofing material, an average roof can last from 25 up to 50 years. So if you are buying a home with an old roof, you will have to do a residential roof replacement eventually.
If the roof is older or in need of repair, then you may want to include those additional costs into your budget and negotiate a lower price if you are buying a fixer-upper home, for example.
Roof Sagging
Signs of a roof that is starting to sag can be noticeable on the ceilings inside the house. Sagging is usually due to aging or when water damage has occurred in the past.
As this is a serious structural issue, make sure to have your roofer look under the shingles closely to determine the extent of the damage. Apart from structural issues, water damage and mold will also be among the main concerns and will have to be fixed.
If you decide to buy the house despite these issues, make sure to negotiate a lower price or insist on having the roof professionally repaired or replaced prior to the purchase.
Conclusion
In some cases, the price of the home will be set with the roof in mind. In other words, it will ideally be lower if the roof is in bad condition or it would be higher if the roof is reasonably new. Whatever the case, you should always get your trusted Jackson TN roofer to conduct a professional inspection.
If you are purchasing a relatively new home, the chances of roofing issues are low as the roof itself will be new as well. However, with older homes, the roof has probably seen better days. Even if a shingle roof replacement has been made, you can never be sure what goes on underneath them.
The best way to know what you are buying into is by having a Jackson TN residential roofing contractor do a roof inspection before signing any contracts.
