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Roof Inspections

The NRCIA advocates that a professional inspection is a paid inspection. Our most popular roof inspection appointments are LeakFREE® roof inspections and Forensic ROOF® inspections. NRCIA members can confidently conduct various roof inspections because our inspection training and proprietary inspection process are of the most advanced in the industry. Many roofs miss out on inspections which can have drastic impacts on your house’s integrity.

When should a roof inspection be done?

Every property in escrow should receive a roof inspection for disclosure purposes. While 98% of all homes sold have a home inspection performed, over 85% of properties are sold with roof damage or leaks, costing the unsuspecting buyer large sums to repair or replace. Outside of escrow, properties owners often neglect the routine roof maintenance required to keep their roof system up to par. As you can see by our data to the right, this differed maintenance leads to costly damage and repairs.

Additionally, every property should receive an annual inspection before its roof certification expires or before the wet season, whichever is earlier, to identify any necessary and acute roof maintenance activities that would decrease the likelihood of future roof leaks. On top of these routine inspections, a roof also needs to be inspected if there is an active leak, roof-related insurance claim, or technical or legal query. Given the roofing system is a structure’s last line of defense against weather, an unsurprising 30% of insurance claims are due to leaking roofs and water penetration.

Click to view a larger image of roof statistics

LeakFREE® Roof Inspection

The NRCIA maximizes roof life by using its proprietary inspection process to inspect the roof. Following the NRCIA roof inspection protocols, a trained NRCIA Certified® roof inspector begins the five-zone LeakFREE® roof inspection by examining the interior, accessible attic, and attached garage to examine any visual evidence of a roof leak. Any evidence found in the first three zones informs the roof inspector of what to more closely inspect when they reach the rooftop. As the fourth zone, the inspector examines the building’s perimeter to look for further evidence of leaks or damage, such as water stains and dry rot. After these observations are complete, the inspector moves to the roof and performs a visual, non-destructive examination. Each roof type and material has its own common critical areas, and the specialist is trained to pay special attention to these potential trouble spots.

During the inspection process, the inspector takes numerous photos of any evidence of active or potential roof leaks. Once the inspection is complete, the inspector assembles a written inspection report, usually within 24-48 hours, complete with photographs, analysis of findings, certification eligibility implications, and professional recommendations. Our LeakFREE® inspection report includes the detail and professional opinion (typically missing from home inspection reports) needed by mortgage lenders, homeowner insurance adjusters, and roof riders on home warranty insurance policies. Usually, a consultation fee can vary, depending on the building’s location and square footage

Forensic ROOF® Inspection

For roof assessments that are specific or technical in nature, you will need a Forensic ROOF® inspection. This is a customized roof inspection restricted to comprehensively evaluating a select attribute of the roofing system, that may include, but is not limited to, insurance claim evaluation, building code compliance, manufacturer’s installation specification compliance, workmanship evaluation, third-party damage responsibility evaluation, or referral to a specialist. Independent experts are trained in their specific areas of expertise. Each Forensic ROOF® inspection is priced and conducted, and each Forensic ROOF® report is written according to the services requested and tests required. Our Forensic ROOF® inspection report is preferred in most insurance claims and legal cases. Speak to your NRCIA Forensic ROOF® inspector for more information.

What does a roof inspection look like?

We’ve discussed why an inspection of the roof is necessary and the different types of roof inspections. Now, let’s break down a roof inspection by an NRCIA Certified Roof Inspector. Below is a video highlighting the zones an inspector will work through to assess the health of your roof system. Our instructor will also provide informative commentary on what inspectors look for both inside and outside the property.