Buying A Home: What To Look For

buying a home

You found a place that you love. It’s in the perfect location, it’s the perfect amount of space, and the yard is amazing. A new home is a big purchase and a very exciting one at that. When you are considering a new home, you need to make sure that the roof of the house is sturdy. The roof is one of the most important and most expensive features of a home. 

An old roof is the number one deal-breaker when it comes to buying a home. Well-maintained roofs can last 30 or more years, but a bad roof can mean you need the replace it soon. Here are some things you should consider when buying a new home.

Determine The Condition Of The Roof

Unless you are purchasing a newly built home, your home will not have a brand new roof. Every roof has some wear and tear. To determine the condition of your roof, you need to know a few things, like the age of the roof. A 5-year-old roof will need less work than a 25-year-old roof will need. Another thing to consider is the materials the roof is made of. Some materials will last longer than others.

The best way to determine the condition of the roof is to hire a home inspector to investigate the roof’s condition. Get documentation of any roofing repairs before buying a home. You should also get a second opinion from a professional roofing company before you go ahead with any big moves. This way you can estimate how much the repairs will cost and when they are needed so you can budget appropriately. Here’s what you need to know to determine the condition of a roof. 

How Old Is The Roof?

One of the most important things to know about a roof is its age. Again, a 5-year-old roof will perform better than a 25-year-old roof. Ask for any documentation from the roof’s installation. Look for any worn-out spots and check to see if any shingles are missing. If you see things like this, it shows that the roof is old. Make sure the roof is flat and there are no curly edges or bulges. An old roof isn’t bad, but you need to check to see how well it held up to any weather events. 

Inspect The Materials

Another important thing you want to know about the roof is what materials it is made from. Some materials last longer than others. For example, a roof made from composite shingles helps the roof last for a longer time than other materials.

Look For A Good Ventilation System

A ventilation system is so important to the integrity of a roof. Even when new, if it doesn’t have an appropriate ventilation mechanism then you may face enormous issues.

A ventilation system that lets sunlight and air come in easily is a must. You should never neglect these two things when buying a home. A poor ventilation system can cause several problems. It adds not only up to the cost by causing more problems, but also helps in the formation of mold.

Check For Mold

Mold comes in different colors–dark, white, green, or black–and shapes. While a few molds are noticeable as they are severe and rotten, some are hidden and can’t be easily seen. It can form between walls, under floors and roofs, or in less visible spots. Mold does best in water-drenched materials such as roofs having water pipes and gutter systems all around the house. Molds can contaminate the walls and the paint of the house. The main reasons for mold development are a poor ventilation system and water leakage. It happens more often in hot climates.

One of the fundamental reasons behind a moldy rooftop directly results from water intrusion from the roof. People see the mold, get it fixed and overlook the source that made it happen. It typically returns on the same spot if the source of the leak isn’t fixed. The water puddles and spreads in the house and the drywall absorbs it. The water can also gather inside the walls, which brings forth various issues later on and causes more destruction. It affects not only the look but also causes an unpleasant odor that can make it difficult to live. Besides this, there are health risks as well.

Contact professionals if you fear mold so that you can get rid of it before you move to your new house.

Canals and Seepage System

Investigate drainage pipes that run along the roof. Getting up on the roof and inspecting the seepage system is a great way to judge a roof’s condition. However, it is recommended that you let experts do that. A seepage system involves downspouts, gutters, and drainage pipes. While checking the gutters, look for asphalt shingle grains thoroughly because the small grains that coat shingles are responsible for shielding the shingles from destructive sunbeams.

Examine the Rooftop Downspouts

Do a check to ensure all rooftop downpipes are released into stormwater wells and not right onto the ground. You should search for any evidence of past flooding or excessive water flowing around the rooftop downspouts. This can mean that the soak wells are not the appropriate sizes or require a cleaning process, which can be very expensive when buying a home.

Scan for Breaks and Leaks

Rooftop leaks play a vital role in damaging the floors and structure of a house. Leaking harms your furniture and can destroy the paint and the walls as well. Once the leaking begins, it is very difficult to track the source of the leak. The leak is not always where it seems.

Leakage mostly happens in valleys, plumbing vents, chimneys, or also when it rains heavily. You will need professionals to find a leak and remove it for you.

When To Walk Away

Sometimes a roof is in such poor condition, it’s best to just avoid it altogether. Your home inspection should uncover these issues, but here are a few that you should definitely walk away from unless the homeowner offers to fix it before purchase.

The roof is sagging.

If the structure of the roof is compromised, walk away. Replacing cracked or deteriorating roofing can be expensive. 

There are patches of missing shingles.

If there are missing patches of shingles or sunlight coming through to the attic space, walk away. This is likely because of very old shingles that require immediate attention. Check for moisture and algae growth on the shingles. This could mean poor ventilation problems are present on the roof. 

You notice stains on the interior walls.

If there is an unnoticed leak in the roof for an extended period, it could have already damaged the ceiling and interior walls of the house. If you see a stain, run your hand on the affected area and check for softness or signs of mold and mildew.

If you are looking at purchasing a new home, make sure to call us at 636-699-0449 to get a professional roofer’s inspection and estimate.