Purchasing a new home is a thrilling experience, but it can also be quite daunting. It is important to know more than a few things about the property you are eyeing before signing on the dotted line, especially when it comes to the roof.
So what are the facts you need to know about your new home’s roof? Here are five essential questions to ask.
1. Is the Roof’s Warranty Transferable? Even a relatively new roof can experience issues, from manufacturing defects and installation errors to impact and storm damage. During a roofing emergency, the last thing any homeowner wants is to discover that the roof’s warranty stopped at the home sale. If one of the selling points of the seller is a new roof with a warranty, make sure you get a copy of the warranty.Roof systems such as the GAF Golden Pledge, Owens Corning Platinum Protection are transferrable and will transfer coverage of workmanship to one additional buyer. Home Pro Exteriors, Inc. is The ONLY area roofing contractor certified to offer each of that maximum protection roof systems!
2. How Old Is the Roof? This question ties to what the roof is made from. An asphalt shingle roof can last from 15 to 30 years. But if the roof is made from clay tiles or metal, it could still have a couple of decades left in it. A roof nearing the end of its lifespan sometimes turns off prospective buyers because some people do not want to spend a lot of money on a replacement right after buying a home.Always look for signs that may point toward a wood nearing the conclusion of its useful life: missing shingles, waves in roof, large gap lines and excess granules in gutters.
3. How many layers of shingles are on the roof? Having more than one layer of shingles is noteworthy for 2 reasons: 1) Inevitably, a roof will need to be replaced and additional layers that need to be replaced will only add to that cost.2) Multiple shingles layers pose a problem for repairs. Most certified roofing contractors cannot and will not offer a warranty on multi layer repairs, in fact, the majority of certified roofers will not attempt repair. The reason being that the top layer masks or hides issues that may be causing the leak so any repair attempt really act as a ‘band-aid’.
4. Who Installed the Roof? You want to find out the installer’s experience and reputation. If the company that installed the roof has low-rated reviews, for instance, you will want to consider getting a professional inspection before proceeding with the transaction. Major shingle manufacturer’s have been around for over a century so material defects are fairly infrequent…the biggest culprits of roof issues are time and workmanship. So it’s important to identify who worked on the roof so you get an idea as to what you can expect.Top-tier roofers such as Home Pro Exteriors, Inc. will offer homeowners access to ‘worry-free’ roof systems that include 25 year coverage of workmanship!
5. How Were Repairs Done? If the home’s roof is older or has obvious repairs, have a qualified roofer inspect it. Mismatched shingles, multiple layers of shingles or large amounts of asphalt tar indicate inferior repairs that were done to be a stop-gap rather than a permanent repair and those could end up costing you down the line.
Be sure to perform a much-needed professional inspection of the roof before purchasing a new home. Our specialists at Home Pro Exteriors, Inc. can help you with just that. Just contact us at (845) 343-1777 or fill out this contact form to schedule an appointment.
