4 Key Roofing Questions Home Buyers Should Ask

Seasoned home buyers may offer different strategies that can help you land a new home with a good roof. A tried-and-true strategy is knowing the right questions to ask a realtor or homeowner before you make your choice. Here are important roofing questions every home buyer should ask. 

1. “When was the roof installed?” A standard asphalt shingle roof’s service life is typically 20 years. The longer its remaining service life, the longer you can enjoy its features and benefits before even thinking about roofing maintenance appointments and its eventual replacement. It can also give you more breathing room in terms of recouping the money you spent on buying the house.

2. “Does it have a transferable warranty?” A transferable warranty is a type of warranty where the coverage can be fully or partially transferred to the next owner. Roofing manufacturers like Owens Corning® offer transferable warranties for certain products and complete roofing systems. It’s important to note that such warranties are only transferable from the first to the second owner, which means you may not be eligible for coverage if the house’s current owner is not the roof’s first owner.

3. “What is the condition of the gutters?” Many people consider the gutters as a separate system, but they are very much part of the roof — that is, if the gutters have problems, then the roof has problems, too. For example, leaking and overflowing gutters usually leads to moisture infiltration at the roof edges, and gutters in good working condition can help save you from a roofing appointment or two.

4. “Is the attic well-ventilated?” The attic needs airflow to maintain heat and moisture levels down. In turn, this helps prevent problems like rotting and warping, as well as mold growth. A typical sloped roof has a passive ventilation system that utilizes the natural rising movement of warm and humid air, releasing them through exhaust vents located at the highest point. This creates negative pressure that pulls fresh air through the intake vents located at the lowest points of the roof. A roof should have at least this basic ventilation system, if not mechanical exhaust fans.

Christian Brothers Roofing provides residential and commercial roofing services to communities in Louisville and the surrounding areas in Jefferson County. Give us a call at (502) 244-0208, or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.