Why You Must Get Your Roof Pre-inspected

By Evelyn Witterholt. 

Having your roof inspected before any future trade work holds those who damage your roof accountable. 

Many homeowners are unaware of the importance of getting their roof pre-inspected before any additional trade work. It’s easy to let a pre-inspection slip your mind before getting work done on your house, such as gutter work, pest control, stucco work and/or chimney repair. You might be so pre-occupied with booking this work that assessing the condition of your roof wasn’t even on your mind. But here’s why it should be. 

More often than not, workers performing these services could cause damage to your precious roof. A pre-inspection helps you confirm the state of your roof and identify any future problems that may have potentially been caused by these trade workers. Here’s what you as a homeowner should know about roof pre-inspections: 

What to look for 

On your own,  take as many pictures of your roof as you can, all while being safe of course! Stay on the ground when taking pictures and leave the close-ups to the roofing professionals. If you can see any current damages like cracked tiles or broken shingles, get as good of an image as you can from the ground below. 

Getting a professional inspection 

It’s always best to have a roofing contractor give your roof the thorough inspection it deserves. Professional roofers have a keen eye and know exactly what to look for in terms of roof health and spotting any current damage. You can find a roofing contractor in your area who would be happy to inspect your roof prior to any trade work. They can give you proper documentation of the state of your roof for you to have on hand in case some problems arise in the future. Many could even get good drone footage of your roof in order to inspect it from all angles. 

What to do when damage occurs 

If you do have work done from other trades and you experience subsequent issues with your roof, the pre-inspection documentation can help you confidently know who was responsible. With the proper documentation, you can hold those who caused it responsible. If you are experiencing issues, it would be wise to contact the contractor who performed your pre-inspection to conduct a post-inspection that can pinpoint just what those issues are.  

Most professional roofing contractors have the resources to make minor repairs and in the case of broken tiles or slate, they can often match the other tiles on your roof through companies like All Points.They have an extensive collection of tiles and slates that will most likely match your existing roof.  

Have a question? AskARoofer.    

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About Evelyn  

Evelyn works as a writer for RoofersCoffeeShop, MetalCoffeeShop and AskARoofer. When she isn’t writing about roofing, she’s either at the gym lifting weights or curled up on the couch watching a movie.