Home Pro Home Inspections - Rochester MN » Roofing

Summer Storm Damage – Now What?

rickerickson — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:28:34 +0000

It’s Summer, and if you haven’t noticed yet, we have had a few storms. Once a storm has passed and it is safe to go outside, make a careful inspection of the exterior of your home and repair any minor damage that may have occurred. These things don’t take care of themselves, so taking prompt action for minor problems can help ensure they don’t end up being a major headache.

Below are a few guidelines for assessing and dealing with storm damage:

Roof
Use a pair of strong binoculars to perform a preliminary inspection of your roof from the ground or eaves. No sense of getting on the roof if you don’t have to. Check the roof for missing or lifted shingles. Check the edges, valleys and ridges for damage. Also take a good look around protrusions such as vent pipes, attic ventilation and chimneys. If you have to go onto the roof to further investigate, make sure that you can do so safely, and take precautions to prevent injury.

If accessible, view the underside of your roof from the attic assess. Discoloration of the wood or decking could signal water infiltration problems. If flashings have been damaged, there may be light coming in around vent pipes, exhaust vents, or the chimney.

Even if you are a seasoned do-it-yourselfer, always consider difficulties and potential dangers when considering roof repairs. If you have any doubts about your abilities, ask for professional help at your local home improvement store or higher a professional.

Gutters & Downspouts

The checklist below will help you detect obvious signs of a failed gutter system. Clogged or damaged gutters will not properly route water away from your house and can result in moisture problems in your basement. As many of you have heard me explain – a one inch rain fall on a thousand square feet of roof surface is 630 gallons of water. We want to make sure that water isn’t pooling around your foundation.

* Gutter(s) that are hanging off the roof
* Downspout(s) that are disconnected from the gutter or house
* Missing gutters
* Water in the basement or elsewhere inside the house
* Leaking or dripping gutter seams
* Overflowing gutters

Again, if you are handy, you can easily repair minor leaks or sags yourself by patching or adding hanging brackets. Visit your local hardware store for advice and the proper hardware for these fixes. More serious gutter damage may require a professional.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Ice Damming Discussed at Rochester MN Home Inspection

rickerickson — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:04:30 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ice Damming Discussed at Rochester MN Home Inspection. As stated in the video, we had over 40 inches of snow here in Rochester during the month of December. Then to top it off we had above freezing weather and rain. This resulted in ice daming on most all homes in the area. Once in the home I made sure to check the exterior wall and ceiling areas for any signs of moisture. Also, I checked for proper insulation, ventilation in the attic area as well as signs of moisture. There were no issues at the time of the inspection. I explained the cause and effect of ice dams to the client and recommended that she pay close attention to the ice daming. For the future I recommended that client consider using a roof rake to keep the lower portion of the roof clear of snow. If you enjoyed my home inspectors video, and would like to see more like it, please leave a comment.
Home Inspectors, HomePro Home Inspections. Rick Erickson, Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942 http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Rochester MN Home Inspector Drives By Roof Collapse

rickerickson — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:25:21 +0000

Recommend further evaluation by Licensed Structural Engineer

We had a lot of snow this past winter and apparently the load exceeded the design specifications of this garage roof. Or maybe deferred maintenance caught up with structure. Whatever the case, it appears this garage is near the end of it’s useful life .

Your home inspector saw this as I was passing by and couldn’t resist stopping and taking a picture.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Rochester MN Home Inspector Discusses Eliminating Ice Dams

rickerickson — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:11:38 +0000

Ice Dams

Ice dams can be a problem this time of year here in the Rochester MN area. Snow melts on the roof and freezes at the eaves leaving a dam. Continued melting will pool water up behind the dam and has the potential to seep under your shingles, resulting in water damage to both the roof deck, as well as the walls and ceilings. During this home inspection I discovered that most all of the insulation from the roof deck had fallen loose in the partial attic section of this story and a half home. In addition, there was no insulation on the interior knee wall, and very little insulation in the ceiling area. The problem results in heat escape to the roof deck, causing the snow melt.

Missing Attic Insulation

The good thing in this case is that most all of the attic areas were accessable which would allow the home owner to install adequate insulation. The recommendation is to hire an insulation contractor to provide adequate insulation to the affected areas to increase insulation efficiency and eliminate the ice damming. I addition to adding insulation the home inspector recommended that the homeowner use a roof rake to keep the bottom 3-4 feet of the eaves clear of snow.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Home Inspection Reveals Damage After The Storm

rickerickson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:35:49 +0000

Holes In Plastic Roof Vent

Sometime it doesn’t hurt to give your roof a quick inspection after a storm. This roof vent damage I found during a home inspection might also explain the stain on the bedroom ceiling.

I recommend that metal roof vents be used over the less expensive plastic models. Saving a few bucks when installing a roof veny may result in repairs down the road.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Rochester MN Home Inspectors Video Of Flat Rubber Roof

rickerickson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:50:08 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here is a good example of a flat rubber roof that is part of an addition to a home. It was raining while I performed this home inspection so I was able to see that there was a low area in the center of this roof. The home owner was made aware that this is something that he should keep an eye on, also as you can see on the video… the gutters were plugged with leaves.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Home Inspectors Discuss Need For A New Roof

rickerickson — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:07:01 +0000

It’s coming up on Fall, and if you need a new roof on your home, now is the time to have one installed. Before you start, there are a few things you should know. You need to make sure and take the entire roofing system into account and not just think about the shingles. The best shingles out there cannot protect your home if any one of the other components of the roofing system is not working or performing properly.

What is “Roofing System” and how do I choose the correct one for my home?

The first thing you need to know are the signs that a roof will need to be replaced. Just like I do when performing a home inspection, you will need conduct a visual inspection of the roof and it’s components. Do this either by walking the roof, viewing from a ladder or from the ground using binoculars of the roof is steep. If you are not comfortable with this process, check out the Rochester and Southeastern MN yellow pages for a reputable roofing contractor.

Some signs that you may need a roof replacement include algae or moss growth on the shingles, damaged flashing around the chimney or other roof openings and vents, curling, buckling, blistering, missing shingles and or tabs, and or rotten wood on the underside of the roof as seen from the attic.

The next step is to make sure you understand what a roofing system is so you will know what questions to ask after you have chosen a contractor. It’s pretty easy if you think of your roof as serving three important functions. Does it protect your home from the elements? Is there adequate ventilation? Does it add to the beauty of your home?

- Underlayment provides your roof protection against water seepage between the roof deck and the shingles.

- Ice and water barriers help to protect your roof’s eves and valleys from Ice, Snow, and driving rains.

- Shingles provide beauty and protect your home from the elements.

- Hip and ridge shingles add extra protection to the ridge line of your home.

- Gutter systems will work better if they have protection or a system in place that will prevent leaf and debris build up and clogs

- Adequate ventilations will allow your attic to breath, reducing heat and moisture build up and preventing mold growth.

- Your home’s insulation keeps the heat in and the cold out, helping to reduce energy consumption and maintain comfort.

It is best if you can choose one manufacturer for all components of your roofing system. Manufacturers design their systems for maximum performance.

Keep in mind that choosing the right contractor is just as important as choosing the right roofing products. Use references from friends and co-workers, or your local building materials center. Be sure to check out contractors’ license status before you start asking for bids. Also remember that the lowest bid isn’t always the best deal. You need to make sure everything you need is covered and that you are comparing apples to apples before you make a decision.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Home Inspections Findings On Loose Gutters

rickerickson — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:31:29 +0000

Loose rain gutters

Most gutter manufacturers provide several methods to hang gutters. During home construction, the quick and cheap method of hanging rain gutters involves nailing them to the fascia board with large spikes. Over time these large spikes often loosen. Plastic type hangers can deteriorate or distort due to elements. Climate changes in the Rochester MN area can cause gutters to pull away and leave gaps between the fascia board and gutter which will result in leakage and potential water damage. Leaking will allow roof water to accumulate near the foundation, and/or cause erosion issues. This is important because many times, wet or damp basement issues can be traced back to gutters, downspouts and grading next to the structure.

There are answers for you. Your HomePro Home Inspector can offer these tips to tighten those loose gutters:

Replace original large spikes with large screw/nails called Gutter Screws from Fasten Master
Another option is to replace the nails with a metal bar or strap hanger suited to a remodeling application. The hanger still fastens to the fascia, but several smaller nails are used. The strap stretches over the gutter, securing the outer edge.
One option available during new construction or when replacing the roof is to fasten a strap hanger to the roof sheathing under the shingles.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Rochester MN Home Inspectors Video On Soil Stack Flashing

rickerickson — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:08:36 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Depending on their condition, old flashings can be reused when a roof is re-shingled. Your roofing contractor will be able to determine what is the best optionon whether to reuse or replace. This video is from a recent home inspection where the soil stack and furnace flue have been properly flashed.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Roof Leak Exposed by Rochester MN Home Inspector

rickerickson — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:03:44 +0000

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On this home inspection the sellers had disclosed that they had had a leak the previous winter and that the problem had been fixed by removing an ice dam and sealing at the roof to wall intersection. Upon further investigation it is possible that the leak has come from higher up on the roof. I recommend that the owner contact their local Rochester MN roofing contractor to remedy the problem.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com