Pittsburgh Roof Inspection

The roof of your house needs to be in good condition to protect your home (and the people who live in it) from the elements. Iron City's homes are subjected to many of the conditions that compromise a roof's integrity. Pittsburgh area roofs are annually exposed to a great deal of moisture in the air practically all year round that can cause condensation underneath the roof. In the summer, the sun can prematurely age a roof and heavy rain can seep under damaged shingles or flashing. During a Pittsburgh winter, snow and ice (some of the most detrimental substances in the roofing world) can add enormous amounts of weight to your roof and can push up shingles to create leaks. The best way to determine how long a roof will last and where problems are likely to occur is to have a professional do a roof inspection.

When to Get a Roof Inspection
Pittsburgh residents should make a point of having the roof examined before buying a new home (though those building a new home will probably be in the clear for a few years). In some cases, lenders will require that any property they give a loan to buy have a roof inspection done to make sure that the property is sound.

Existing Pittsburgh roofs should be inspected regularly once it is more than a few years old. While it might seem like an unnecessary precaution, after you take into account what it costs to replace a roof that has been severely damaged (a new roof starts at about $5,000 and goes up from there), it makes sense to identify and repair small damages before they turn into major problems. Certified roof inspectors will be able to give you a certificate if all is well that guarantees that your roof will be in working order for the next 2-3 years (barring any unexpected forces of trauma like a tree falling on it or a stray meteor). This certificate can actually act much like a 2 year insurance policy if a leak does occur.

What to Expect in a Pittsburgh Roof Inspection
In most cases, an inspector will examine the attic ceiling as well as go out on the roof to perform a visual inspection of its condition. They may also use infrared equipment to check for variances in temperature, which can determine places where leaks are or are likely to happen. Sometimes, it is difficult or dangerous to perform a typical roof inspection. Pittsburgh homes with heavily pitched roofs may need to be examined from a ladder or from the ground with binoculars if walking on them is deemed risky. Slate and tile roofs also pose a problem for up close roof inspection. Pittsburgh homes covered with these materials are difficult to walk on because tile and slate are brittle enough to break under a person's weight.

Snow and ice also present an issue when inspecting a roof in the Allegheny County area because they cover up roofing material and can be slippery. Homeowners should schedule an inspection when no snow or ice is expected or present. If an inspection simply has to be done under these conditions, leaving the door to the attic wide open for a day before the inspection to get as much heat as possible under the roof may keep snow from sticking. In some cases, when the situation is safe, snow may actually be shoveled off of the roof before an inspection.

Pittsburgh Roof Inspection Prices
For a typical roof inspection, Pittsburgh residents should expect to pay around $300. This price can go up or down, of course, depending on the size of your roof and other conditions particular to your property. In most cases, roof inspection doesn't take too long and should be finished well within an afternoon.