What to Look for in the Roof When You Are Buying a Home
McKinney needs little or no introduction as far as Texas and especially Collin County is concerned. It is a great place to live and set up shop in the Lone Star State. This explains why the real estate market here and in some of its surrounding areas is thriving more than ever before.
For these reasons and more, it is well understood if you have chosen to buy a residential or commercial property here. However, when the need to get a property in McKinney or anywhere else arises, you should get one that ticks all the right boxes.
For one, the roof is a part that needs to be in the right state and shape. A lot depends on it and so you should know what to look for when assessing the roof. Against this backdrop, let us go over what to look for in the roof when buying a property.
When Was the Roof Installed?
More often than not, people go about checking the state and shape of the roof when inspecting it. This is no doubt the right thing to do but there is something else to do as well. You also need to find out how long the roof has been installed.
The reason is that roofs are designed to serve a long while but not forever. Imagine a roofing product with a lifespan of 30 years and that was installed 25 years ago. This means that the roof is supposed to remain intact for 5 more years.
So, your roof inspection when buying a property should also center on finding out when the roof was installed. You may need to get a receipt for this purpose.
Check the Seepage System
The gutters, drainage pipes, and downspouts are a significant part of the seepage system. This system ensures the roof handles moisture properly. Its effectiveness or ineffectiveness will affect the roof so it should be properly inspected.
For example, there is such a thing as shingle grains. These are the coatings deliberately placed on shingle roofing products. Its essence is to protect the shingle material from the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays.
If some bits and pieces of these grains are found in the gutters, it means the roof is compromised to a certain extent. It does not matter if leaks and damages are already noticed.
By and large, make sure the seepage system is intact. The truth is that experts are in the best position to inspect the seepage system and other aspects of the roof. It is a lot better than doing this yourself. This is why you should engage companies like Texas Pride Construction that come highly recommended for this purpose in McKinney and the surrounding areas.
Assess the Roof’s Structural Integrity
It is important to also assess the roof’s structural integrity. In doing this, you should check for things such as:
- Broken and missing singles
- Damaged or misplaced chimney cap (if the roof has a chimney)
- Rust spots or cracked caulk on flashing
- The presence of lichen and/or moss signaling a decaying roof