Your roof is an important part of your home that protects you from the world’s elements. Not having a stable roof can lead to many different types of long and short-term problems. Having a roof certification is a breath of fresh air for those looking for a home. It ensures that a roofing contractor came in and promised the stability of the roof into the far future. A roof certification can be the deciding factor on a family choosing your home, or another home on the market. Read on to learn more about roof certification, and why they are extremely important when it comes to painting your home in the best light for a prospective buyer.
What Exactly is a Roof Certification?
A roof certification is essentially a co-sign from an established roofer on the lifespan of the roof. This certification proves that the roof is not going to interfere with anyone’s safety and that it is perfectly ready for another person to live under it. It is also FHA (Federal Housing Administration) compliant, which gives an added layer of stability for a prospective owner. First, you would have to get the roof inspected. During a roof inspection, a roofer will tell you any of the repairs that you may need to do on the roof. They surely will look for red flags such as loose shingles, cracks, and leaks. Then, they will give the best suggestions for repairs so you can bring about a roof that is strong and durable.
Then, after you get the much-needed repairs, you can go a step further and get a roof certification. A licensed roofer will inspect many different parts of the roof including drain flow, materials, and flashing around the pipes. Then, if the roofer decides that whether the roof should be certified or not. They then create an official document, with the roof’s lifespan clearly stated on it.
A roof’s lifespan usually lasts anywhere from one to five years. At the end of that lifespan, the owner should get a new inspection and certification on the roof. When you receive a roof certification, it’s important to read the fine print. Some certifications include a warranty along with it, and some don’t. Some of these warranties only include some part of the roof and not others. Be sure to be clear on what your certification means for you, so you can relay that clearly to the prospective buyer.
What Influences the Roof Certification?
Your home’s roof is made up of many different parts and materials. The quality of each is very important in influencing your roof’s certification. For example, the material that you choose will determine how durable the roof would be and how long it would last. After ten solid years, a wood roof will show many different signs of wear and tear. On the other hand, after fifty years a tile roof might not show any signs of damage. The roofer will evaluate the durability of the materials chosen and what roof repairs should be done.
The roof’s pitch, otherwise known as the steepness of the roof, can influence a roofer to suggest more repairs. The roofer might even charge you more to work on a roof that has a higher than usual pitch, due to the safety hazards involved with the job. The roof’s layers is another factor that the roofer is going to look at. States often have rules concerning how many layers is acceptable for a roof. If the roof has too many layers, then it may be too heavy and inevitably affect the framing of the entire house.
Previous repair work might be looked at as well. Depending on the quality of the work done, there might be repairs that need to be done on top of it if it is not holding up well. All of these factors are very important in calculating whether your roof is going to go the distance.
Doesn’t the Home Inspector Inspect the Roof?
The answer to this question is: sort of. Home inspectors are not required to check the inside of the roof. They are only allowed to check visible existing problems, and there are some things that you just can not notice from the ground. Also, the future performance of a roof can not be guaranteed by a home inspector. Some roofs are considered unsafe to walk on and home inspectors often fear of causing more damage to the home. Getting a roof inspection and certification is often the only way to guarantee that your roof is strong and, inevitably, that your home is ready to sell.
Does a Roof Certification Help Sell Your Home?
The answer to this question is: yes, yes, and yes. A roof certification gives a sense of comfort to a prospective buyer. Since it has a suggested lifespan from a professional, it helps the buyer plan for the future which will inevitably make them think about living in your home as well. Be sure to check if you can transfer your warranty to the next owner of your home as well. That could also be a big selling point for a potential owner. If you live in an area that deals with unpredictable weather such as tornadoes, snowstorms, and extreme rain, a warranty can bring more security to the buyer than a roof certification will. A roof certification brings about stability, which is very important for home buyers everywhere.
Choosing to get a roof inspection, and a roof certification can only benefit your home. It shows that you’re being proactive when it comes to making sure that your home is the safest that it can possibly be. It also shows that you are serious about selling your home, and you are taking the responsibility that you need to take as a homeowner to maintain that property. Getting a roof certification makes you stand out from the other homes on the block, and might inevitably be the deciding factor that finally takes your home off of the market.
