A careful look before the weather turns
Roof Inspection in Verona, NJ
A roof inspection is a methodical look over the shingles, the metal at joints, the gutters and the attic underside, done while a problem is still small. Call (862) 396-4866 about a visit, and the contractor can walk through it in Verona or a neighboring town.
What changes the size of the job
What changes the scope of a roof look
Roof type, size and steepness come first, then access: some roofs can be read well from the ground and some need a closer approach. Whether the attic has a hatch matters, and so does the material. The National Park Service advises an annual look and another after severe storms, plus a more detailed inspection every five to seven years by someone experienced with slate. A homeowner who wants a written list of findings can say so on the call.
Stop and step back if
- A ceiling that sags or drips near a light fixture: leave the room and call 911.
- Overhead lines near the roof edge: keep any ladder at least ten feet from them, and call 911 about a wire that is down.
- A roof that is wet, icy or windy: do not climb it. Binoculars and a window do the same job.
- Soft or sloping ground under a ladder: do not set it up. Look from the yard instead.
This job and its partner
A full look or a storm repair
An inspection is the broader of the two jobs. It covers the whole roof, whether or not anything has gone wrong, while the storm damage page describes work that follows a specific event. If a limb came down last night, start with that one. If the roof is simply old, newly bought or heading into winter, start here. Either path can lead to the other once the contractor has looked.
What to look at
A slow walk around the house with binoculars
According to the Park Service, the strongest first inspection starts on the ground with binoculars, or on a lift. Walk the whole house and look at each slope for missing, lifted or discolored shingles. Check the line of the ridge for dips. Scan the chimney's metal edging, then the gutters for debris. Write down what you see on each side. That sheet gives the contractor a map.
On a visit, in order
- 1
Call (862) 396-4866, say what prompted the look, whether a storm, a purchase or a stain, and give the roof's age if known; then ask for a visit.
- 2
The contractor can begin at ground level with binoculars, scanning for missing or lifted shingles, damaged ridge pieces and sagging lines.
- 3
On the roof, the look covers flashing at chimneys, walls, skylights and vent pipes, the places where problems tend to show first.
- 4
Gutters and downspouts come next: debris, loose hangers, leaking joints and where the water lands.
- 5
Up in the attic, the contractor can examine the roof deck's underside for stains, the insulation for damp spots and the vents for anything blocking air.
- 6
The visit can end with a list of what was seen, what can wait and what cannot. For any repair on the list, the paperwork page covers Verona's rules.
The parts involved
Six places a roofer looks first
The ridge, the valleys where two slopes meet, the flashing at chimneys and walls, the rubber collars on vent pipes, the gutters and the eave edge account for most of what shows up on a roof. The roofing manufacturers' association lists missing or loose shingles, impaired flashing and obstructed gutters or vents among the signs of damage. Flashing deserves extra time because the association calls it the weakest point.
Signs to look for
- Missing, loose or cracked shingles seen from the street
- Rust, gaps or lifted edges on the metal at a chimney or wall
- Gutters holding leaves, seedlings or standing water
- Gritty granules collecting in the gutter or at a downspout outlet
- A roof that has been through a storm, a hard winter or a sale
Paperwork pointer
What the township checks and what it does not
Verona's code enforcement page lists roofs among the items its property maintenance rules cover, along with landscaping, paint and siding. The page describes no roof inspection program. Records matter later: the Park Service advises keeping a log of repairs and invoices. The paperwork page has the Verona office details and the other three towns.
Have this ready
Write down the address, what is visible from the ground and the roof's age if known, then call (862) 396-4866. Tenants start with the landlord. Towns covered: Verona, Cedar Grove, North Caldwell, West Orange.