Buying a preowned Vancouver home is stressful when you can only see what shape the home is in on the surface, not what lies underneath. One of the most costly parts of a house to repair or replace is the roof, so when you are considering buying a home anywhere in Vancouver, you should complete your own inspection and maybe even get a professional inspector on the case. Afterall you will surely not want to spend more money of roof repairs in Vancouver.
Here are Kanga Roofing’s suggestions for roof inspections for home buyers.
Know what to look for
Sometimes the current homeowner will know about roof damage that exists, while other times they will be clueless. Whatever the case, you can scope out the situation on your own. You should look for the following:
- Whether the roof has missing tiles or shingles, a sign of water damage
- Water stains on the ceiling, also a sign of a leak from the roof
- Whether the ceiling appears to be freshly painted–this may indicate the homeowner has covered over stain marks and you should investigate further
- Whether there are any signs of water infiltration in the attic that may indicate a leak
- Water damage on a fascia board, which is the band underneath a roof
If the roof is made of tile, ask the homeowner when they last replaced the felt underlayment, which protects the roof from water. These are meant to last for 12 to 20 years.
Keep your options open for addressing any damage
If you do find noticeable damage, bring it up with the homeowner. Hopefully Vancouver roofers will be willing to get the damage fixed or give you a credit to get it done yourself. If not, it is up to you to decide whether you’ll take the home as it is or not.
Find out from your home inspector whether they looked at the roof
Many general home inspectors are not specialists in roof damage, but they should know enough to tell you whether or not you should get an expert to look at a roof that might be in need of repairs or replacement. Take their advice, then contact us if you’re in the Vancouver area and are looking to hire roofing contractors.
Image courtesty of aag.com