The roofs of residential and commercial buildings protect not only the building structures but also the occupants and the items in the buildings. You must ensure they are adequately maintained and in good condition. You can have building inspectors conduct regular inspections to help you promptly detect issues. This post discusses what a building inspector looks for in a roof.
You can read up on why you should regularly perform roof inspections and why you need pre-purchase property inspections and reports. This post also considers the contents of pre-purchase building and pest inspection reports and what to not look out for in typical pre-purchase inspections.
What is a roof inspection?
A roof inspection is when your building inspector checks for wear and tear and examines your roof’s lifespan. Roof inspections aim to spot unsafe roof features or poor roof conditions and detect flaws on time. Your roof inspector can subsequently recommend roof repairs if necessary. Ultimately, the process helps you save significantly on home maintenance and building operational costs.
Why perform roof inspections regularly?
Roofs typically have two major components. This includes internal structures made from timber or steel and outer structures made from roofing materials such as roofing materials. There can be severe negative impacts on your building if your roofs are poorly maintained. The interior structure can suffer severe damage if the external layer is compromised.
The roof tiles may get broken or may be missing. Roofing materials may suffer from poor weather. Tree branches may fall on them and suffer damage from storm-related debris. It is common for roof leaks to occur in areas where pipes penetrate roofing materials.
Residential and commercial building inspections are often necessary because you must make arrangements to inspect and fix the above issues promptly. Otherwise, they may result in major structural defects, building defects, or plaster issues. They may also open your property up to the possibility of mould growth.
What inspectors look for in roof inspections
- Your roof inspector will check that your roof ventilation, plumbing, and other aspects of your roof comply with the Australian Standards (AS/NZS 3500).
- For a start, your roof inspector will consider roof safety hazards before conducting roof inspections.
- It is essential that your roof inspector thoroughly inspect both internal and external structures of the roof.
- They have to inspect the entire surface of roofs. This includes downspouts, roof framings, chimneys, vents, gutters, tiles, and flashings.
- Roof inspectors can inspect your roof cavity and crawl spaces. They can check roof exteriors for rust and corrosion. In addition, they will check that your roof sheeting is suitable for the roof pitch.
- Gutters clogged by debris can cause water spills, leading to structural issues and even becoming a fire safety hazard.
- The roof lines will be checked for deflections.
- A building inspector checks gutters for signs of damage or rust.
- The building inspection process can include checks on roof downpipe connections to stormwater drains.
Importance of pre-purchase property inspections
You do not only need to do a personal inspection of a property’s condition before you buy it. You must have a professional building inspector conduct pre-purchase property inspections. They will subsequently provide building inspection and dilapidation reports that may reveal problems about the property’s conditions that you may otherwise not know about.
For example, new home building inspections may reveal severe problems with doors, windows, frames, or salt damp issues. In essence, these pre-purchase building reports help avoid extra costs later on and reveal helpful information about a property’s condition before you commit to the purchase.
Contents of pre-purchase building reports
Pre-purchase building inspection reports have to comply with Australian Standards for such reports. However, the cost and format of the report depend on your property’s type and the report preparation process.
Note that factors that may affect the final report include problems that are difficult to detect, such as rising dampness and leaks. You also need to provide relevant information to the consultant.
Generally, building and pest inspection reports contain the following:
Accessible areas
Building inspectors provide reports on accessible areas of the property, such as roof spaces and roof exteriors. Your building inspector can check other areas, such as interior and exterior walls and non-structural retaining walls.
Specific house inspection report requests
This includes reports on requested items or parts of the property, such as operable smoke alarms and signs of asbestos.
Site reports
Pre-purchase building inspections may provide site reports, including reports on garages, fencing, and surface water drainage. A building inspector can also check for drain holes on external walls. You may also request hot water system reviews.
Building safety hazards
Property inspections can include checks for safety hazards resulting from common defects during inspection. You can expect your inspector to check walls for water stains, moisture penetration, and signs of water leaks. The inspector may look out for a damp smell in cabinets, indicating rising dampness or water leaks in the building.
However, property inspection companies may have limitations on the scope of safety inspections and hazards they check for. You may need to confirm the extent of these safety hazard checks with them before the inspection process.
Pest inspector reports
The pest inspection report usually involves thorough home inspections for pests, including ants, cockroaches, and termites. Your pest inspector may check roof voids, subfloors, and rooms.
Other information
The building inspection report may include other information such as names, property addresses, overall condition summary, and reasons for the inspection.
Recommendations
Recommendations for further inspections by accredited specialists such as surveyors, structural engineers, or water supply authority
What not to expect from pre-purchase inspections
Note that inspectors may not include the following in their building inspections:
- Assessing things that are not readily accessible in a property, such as electrical wirings that are inside walls or ceiling
- Pre-purchase inspections may also not include checks for furniture and room size fits.
- You may also need special-purpose inspections to inspect uncommon property areas such as saunas and swimming pools.
Reports are needed to build and maintain properties
Various inspections and reports may be needed as you build, inspect, and maintain properties. This is where professional building inspectors come in. They are highly familiar with local building codes and regulations and can provide professional building and pest inspections in Gold Coast, Brisbane, The Scenic Rim, and Redland Bay.
Stakeholders such as owner-builders and expert witnesses may also need to play significant roles in the successful inspection preparation of reports. Here are some inspections and report services to expect from property and pest inspectors as you build, inspect, and maintain properties.
- Construction inspections and other stage inspections
- Practical completion inspections
- Handover inspections
- Pre-purchase building inspections
- Pre-sale vendor inspections
- Pest inspections and termite inspections
- Dilapidation reports
Pest, termite and pest control services
It is helpful to perform pest and termite inspections in addition to building inspections. Pest inspectors can examine your property for evidence of termite activity and any termite damages. It is also wise to conduct annual timber pest inspections on your property.
Pest inspectors may recommend pest control measures such as termite treatments if they detect wood-destroying termites or insect pests on your property. Note that a building inspector needs a specific Timber Pest Inspection qualification for a pest inspection.
Hire a building professional for roof inspections
This post has guided what a building inspector looks for in a roof. You have read up on the contents of pre-purchase building and pest inspection reports and inspections and reports needed to build, inspect and maintain properties.
There may be intricacies and safety hazards that may be involved in roof inspections. Hiring professional building inspectors is advisable rather than attempting a DIY roof inspection. They have more experience and can help you achieve your ultimate objective, such as securing home loans and purchasing or maintaining your dream home.
