Do you need a roof inspection? Are you worried about how much a roof inspection will cost?
There are multiple reasons why you would need a roof inspection. It could be to track a roof leak, for a general inspection to see how your roof is performing, or to get a quote for a new roof.
No matter the reason, the first question a homeowner usually asks is how much it’ll cost. Well, the truth is, it depends.
For over 35 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners prepare for and understand their upcoming roof inspection. Because pricing is a huge piece of the puzzle, let’s break it down, as well as other roof inspection questions homeowners have when reaching out.
By the end of this article, you’ll learn:
- How much does a roof inspection cost?
- How long does a roof inspection take?
- Does a roofing contractor need to come inside during a roof inspection?
- What gets inspected during a roof inspection?
How much does a roof inspection cost?
A general roof inspection costs anywhere from $120 to $400, depending on the size, accessibility, and complexity of your roof. However, the reason you’re getting the inspection can affect pricing, or whether you pay anything at all.
If you’re getting an estimate for a roof replacement, most roofing companies offer free inspections because there’s potential for a sale. For roof repairs, some companies charge a service fee for inspecting and tracking the roof leak before creating an estimate for the repair.
Outside of the two big roofing services, you’ll find that most maintenance and general roof inspections fit the pricing above. However, most roofing companies offer maintenance programs that include regularly scheduled roof inspections at discounted prices.
Maintenance keeps tabs on the condition of your roof, helps avoid costly repairs, and maximizes your roof’s lifespan. So, signing up for one is always a good idea.
Especially considering that maintenance programs usually come with other perks, like discounted repair rates, gutter cleaning, and more.
How long does a roof inspection take?
A roof inspection usually takes around 1-2 hours to fully complete, but it ultimately depends on the roof’s size, complexity, accessibility, and reason for the inspection. If you have an easy up-and-over roof with a walkable pitch, your inspection will be on the shorter side.
It’ll take longer on a two-story home with a steep roof cut up at multiple angles because there’s more to navigate, closer details to inspect, and proper safety precautions must be taken. But as I said, the reason you’re getting the roof inspection also plays a role.
An inspection for a roof replacement should fit in within 1-2 hours, but can be on the longer side if there’s an estimate presentation. A storm damage roof inspection is usually closer to the 2-hour side or even longer because they’re looking for and documenting signs of damage.
Inspections for roof leaks are a little different because they have to inspect, track, and repair the issue (if it’s not too bad). While it’s hard to say exactly how long a roof inspection takes, you’ll find that 1-2 hours is pretty standard.
Does a roofing contractor need to come inside during a roof inspection?
Like most things with an inspection, whether a roofing contractor needs to come inside depends on the reason. If you need roof repairs, it depends on what’s causing the roof leak.
If it’s clear what’s causing the leak, they can usually track and do the repair without coming into your home. However, a hard-to-find leak may require coming inside to see where it’s showing up and tracking it to the source on the roof.
On the other hand, a roofing contractor should come inside when providing an estimate for a new roof to check the attic’s ventilation system and condition of your roof decking. For ventilation, they’ll make sure it’s performing adequately and determine if anything needs to be done to make it more efficient or work properly during the roof replacement.
For roof decking, they’ll look for any rotting on the underside of the wooden boards for an idea of how much, if any, decking needs to be replaced. If you have plank decking, they also need to check the gaps between the boards to ensure they meet installation and building code requirements.
Every home doesn’t have an attic space, but reputable roofing contractors will come inside if you do when creating an estimate.
What gets inspected during a roof inspection?
At this point, you know general information about roof inspections, but there’s still understanding what a roofing contractor actually looks at. They’ll obviously check the condition of the roof and determine how much life is left, but a roof inspection is much more than that.
The roofing contractor will check the following things and areas during their roof inspection:
- Your attic’s ventilation system
- Soffit and fascia
- Any visible roof leaks or interior water stains
- How many layers your roof has
- The condition of your roof’s decking
- Roof vents
- Roof flashing
- Drip edge
- The overall condition of the main roofing material (shingles, metal, etc.)
- Chimney
- Roof penetrations (pipes, skylights, etc.) and their flashing
- The gutters and downspouts
But just like the time it takes, the service you’re getting determines what gets checked. For example, getting an inspection for a new roof also requires measuring certain things (the roof's pitch, chimney base, valley length, etc.) that need to be accounted for when estimating the price.
How often should a roof be inspected?
After reading this article, you know how much a roof inspection costs, how long it takes, what gets checked, and if a roofer needs to come inside during one. Remember, the reason you’re getting a roof inspection plays a huge role.
However, every roofing contractor is different, and the way inspections work varies. So, it really depends on the company you contact.
Unfortunately, most homeowners only reach out when there’s a problem. While this is understandable, problems can actually be avoided before they start by simply getting routine inspections.
That’s why I wrote another article breaking down how often you should get your roof inspected.
Check out How Often Should You Get Your Roof Inspected to learn how often it’s recommended to get your roof checked and why it’s important.
