What happens when a certified roof leaks
A LeakFREE® Roof Certification records that a specific roof, at a specific address, met the published LeakFREE® criteria on the date it was inspected. It is not a promise that water will never get in. Roofs are exposed to weather, and inspections are performed by people. So the more useful question is what the system does when a certified roof leaks anyway.
Here is how it played out on a recent job reported by an NRCIA member.
The certification
A property owner contacted an accredited member and requested an inspection. The member performed a LeakFREE® Check and identified several repairs the roof needed before it could meet the criteria.
The owner had the repairs completed. The member re-inspected that work, confirmed the roof met the criteria, and issued a LeakFREE® Roof Certification through InspectionPLUS®.
The leak
Roughly a year later, with the roof still inside its certification period, the owner found an active leak. They called the same member who had issued the certification and requested a diagnostic inspection.
Diagnostic inspections are available to certificate holders. They run a three-zone process to determine whether the damage falls within what the certification covers.
It did. The source was damaged underlayment at a valley. That damage was present at the time of the original inspection and had been missed.
What the certification covered
Because the finding fell within the terms of the certification, the diagnostic inspection fee and the repair costs were waived for the property owner. Each certification carries a stated limit of liability, which sets the maximum monetary amount of covered damages the issuing member is responsible for. That figure varies with the roof system and the conditions recorded at inspection, and it is printed on the document.
The member worked with the owner on the repair plan. Once the work was complete, the certification continued through the balance of its term. At expiration, re-certification is available following a new inspection.
Why the process holds
What made the difference here was that a single accredited individual inspected the roof, issued the certification under a published standard, and was accountable for what the inspection missed. The owner had one number to call and a document that defined the terms in advance.
That is the point of a standard. It sets out what was examined, what the findings were, what the term is, and what happens if something turns up later. LeakFREE® is our federally registered trademark. Only NRCIA members can issue a LeakFREE® certification.
One term to keep in mind: if repairs are performed by anyone who is not an NRCIA member, re-inspection is triggered.
Find an accredited member
Search the NRCIA member directory and schedule a LeakFREE® Check.
LeakFREE®, Forensic ROOF®, Mr. RoofCheck®, InspectionPLUS®, Today’s Inspection… Tomorrow’s Protection®, and Got Leaks?® are registered trademarks of Field Gate FLP, used by permission. RoofGUARD™, ForensicGUARD™, DisasterGUARD™, E3GUARD™, and Think Like a Raindrop™ are trademarks of Field Gate FLP.
