Buying a new house is a really exciting time: you start thinking of all the possibilities in how you can decorate, all the dinner parties you’ll be throwing and the endless delicious meals you’ll prepare in your huge kitchen. It can be very overwhelming with so much to think about that you might not think to look at the structure, foundation or the roof of the new home. These areas are really important to look at because they can be costly adventures in home ownership if you need to replace, repair or otherwise fix them. When you’re looking to buy a new home, it’s best to take a peak at the condition of the roof if you can and here’s what you should be looking for.
 
Ask some questions
Don’t be afraid to ask for more information from the current owners because this is purchase is going to be one of the biggest investments you ever make. Asking questions like if the current owners have replaced the roof and, if they did, when they did replace it and who did the work. This might be important in case you have any issues the company who completed the work by offer some type of warranty on their work, the product, or both.
 
Take a look around
While viewing the upstairs of the home, or even the attic if there is one, look towards the ceiling and see if there’s any visible water damage to the paint (bubbling or discolouring, specifically). These are both signs that there could be water damage to the house, which might be the roof is leaking.
 
Check the perimeter
Once you’ve looked at the inside of the house, checking the outside is just as important. Take a step back so you can get a good look at the roof. You’ll want to make sure there isn’t any mold on the shingles, as best you can, and that they are all perfectly flat against the top of the house without any curly edges or bulges in any area.
 
Check the ventilation
Even if the house you’re looking at has just had the roof replaced, if it doesn’t have proper ventilation then the problems haven’t really been solved. Without ventilation you could still be facing moisture and mold issues, which can very quickly add up to be expensive and large renovation issues if left for a long period of time. You’ll want to make sure the ventilation in the home lets sunlight and air come in easily.
 
Check the drainage and run offs
Your roof will be exposed to the elements no matter what you do, so you’ll want to make sure it has effective run offs. Downspouts are important to make sure any water that comes down and is moved away from the roof and home. Do a quick check while you’re there to make sure they are free from debris and aren’t clogged. If they aren’t set up properly this could mean water is sitting or pooling, and eventually may leak through into your home.
 
When buying a new home, you should always look into having a professional home inspector do a complete check on the home to be sure it’s safe and there aren’t serious issues. You can, though, do these quick few checks yourself first to make sure you aren’t moving forward, or putting in an offer, on a home that is going to cause you major expenses in the near future. 

​Next – How to remove mold from your roof.
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