Why Late Spring Is the Right Time for a Roof Inspection in Central Florida

The Calendar Argument

There are two good reasons to inspect a roof in late spring, and only one of them is about the roof.

The first is condition. A Central Florida roof has just come through a dry winter and is about to face five months of afternoon storms, sustained humidity and the possibility of a named system. Whatever is marginal now will be tested soon.

The second is availability. In May a roofer can usually be at your house within a week. After a storm, the same call gets you a queue. Nothing about an inspection is urgent until it is very urgent, and by then the people who can help are all busy.

What an Inspection Actually Covers

A worthwhile inspection is not a glance from the driveway. It should cover four things.

The Surface

Shingle condition, granule coverage, curling, cracking, and the state of the seal strips. On a tile roof, cracked or slipped tiles and the condition of the underlayment where it is visible. On metal, fastener backing-out, panel oil-canning and the state of the seams.

The Penetrations and Transitions

This is where roofs leak. Vent boots, skylight flashing, chimney counterflashing, valleys, and wall transitions where the roof meets a vertical surface. Sealant here has a shorter life than anything else on the roof.

The Edge and Drainage

Drip edge, fascia, soffit condition, and whether the gutters are actually moving water away from the house. Standing water at the eave is a slow problem that becomes a fast one.

The Attic

Decking from below, insulation condition, ventilation balance, and any staining that indicates a past or present leak path. A roof can look acceptable from above and be actively wet underneath.

What You Get Out of It

Three things, in rough order of value.

A written record of condition. Photographs and notes, dated. This is worth having regardless of what the inspection finds.

A list of what needs doing, separated from what does not. A good inspection distinguishes "this will fail this season" from "this is normal wear for a roof this age." Both are useful. The second stops you spending money you do not need to spend.

A realistic timeline. If a roof has three or four years left, knowing that lets you plan. If it has one bad storm left in it, knowing that is considerably more valuable.

The Problems Worth Fixing Before June

Not everything an inspection finds needs immediate action. These generally do:

• Broken shingle seals along the edges and ridge — the roof's wind resistance depends on those seals
• Cracked or hardened vent boots — a cheap part whose failure causes an expensive interior problem
• Loose or missing drip edge — wind gets under the roof edge and lifts from there
• Blocked valleys or gutters — water that cannot leave finds another way
• Any active leak, however small — a slow leak in May is a wet ceiling in August

We do roof repair in Melbourne, roof repair in Merritt Island and roof repair in Meadow Woods, and the repairs that come in during hurricane season are very often the same items someone was told about in the spring.

What It Costs You

An inspection costs an hour of your time and a scheduled visit. What it can save is the difference between a repair and a replacement, or between a stained ceiling and a rebuilt one.

If the inspection finds work worth doing, Southern Traditions Roofing can provide an itemized estimate and perform the roofing work you authorize. If it finds a roof in good condition, you get a dated record saying so, which is worth having on file.

Insurance Claims

If you believe your roof has sustained storm damage that may be covered by insurance, contact your insurance company or insurance agent directly regarding coverage and the claims process. Southern Traditions Roofing can inspect your roof, identify physical damage, and provide an itemized estimate for roofing repairs or replacement. We do not interpret insurance policies, determine coverage, file insurance claims on behalf of homeowners, or negotiate insurance claims unless otherwise permitted by law.

Scheduling

Late spring books up as the season approaches. If you are going to do this, earlier in the month is easier than later.