Can a proper home(roof) inspection be done when the roof is covered with snow?

Question

Does the exterior of the roof have to be thoroughly inspected as well to verify the actual condition of the roof, or will an interior inspection be sufficient? If it's not possible to inspect the exterior because of the snow on the roof, then what can the buyer do to ensure that he is buying a house which has a good roof? How can the buyer's interest be protected when buying a home in the winter?

Answer 1

The exterior roof inspection is a relatively small part of the overall home inspection. The inspection contract will generally say the inspection will only cover what is visible. If you want to make sure the exterior of the roof is inspected, you can arrange to have the snow cleaned off. But the inspector can tell a lot about the roof by inspecting it from the inside. Some inspectors will clean off enough snow to at least inspect parts of the outside. Most won't.

The most important things to get inspected before buying a house usually aren't, because the inspection would cost more. If it's a slab foundation with no basement, it's very important to get the plumbing inspected extensively. That's because plumbing work can be very costly with a slab foundation. A typical inspection only tests the functionality of the plumbing, but not the actual condition of the pipes under the slab, nor the condition of the sewer line. Compared to those, a roof is relatively cheap to repair. Something that typically happens with moderately old houses on slab foundations is that tree roots grow into the sewer line, causing frequent sewer backups. The only permanent way to fix that is to replace the sewer line with a more modern one. Otherwise you have to get rid of the tree roots on an ongoing basis, year after year. Replacing the sewer line requires breaking the foundation slab with a jackhammer. But if the roof leaks, you usually only have to replace some shingles.

The important point of all this is to be aware of the risks and costs. The inspection costs money and helps reduce your risks. But you will still have risks. And each risk can be measured by how likely an incident is to happen, combined with how much it would cost if it did happen. So don't just inspect what seems obvious. Analyze the risks and find the most cost effective way to minimize them, with a very sophisticated inspection that takes such risks and costs into account.

Answer 2

All an inspector can do is a visible inspection on the day of the inspection. He can check for leaks from the inside....if covered with snow they would be unable to determine the condition or approximate age of the roof....this would be noted in his report.......you should be able to have them come back when it has melted to give a full roof inspection...even though i no this could delay the sale...LHI

Answer 3

You most definitely need to see the condition of the shingles, if they lay flat to the roof, or if they are loose. You also need to see
if there have been some spot repairs to the roof. Indicating that
some shingles have been replaced may mean there was a leak.
I bought a house and had to have the entire roof replaced. I was lied to about a lot of things. Be very careful or you will be paying for a long time.

Answer 4

a home inspection is noninvasive.he wont shovel off the roof because if the roof starts leaking for any reason the in specter will be blamed.if he cant inspect any part of the house .it will be noted in his report

Answer 5

NO! and this should be a major red flag when buying the house....to properly take care of a house in the winter, you need to remove the snow from the roof....
unless the roof only has a thin coating of snow, be weary of a house covered with snow...
read this article i found on how to take care of your house in the snow...before you buy a house make sure the current owner is taking care of his house in the winter..
http://wehow.ehow.com/how_2019435_protect-house-winter-elements.html

Answer 6

Well from inside you can tell if there are any leaks or dry rot, but you won't be able to see the shape the shingles are in. The inspector should clear the snow in potential problem areas, ie: valleys and eaves to give you a better assessment. If he refuses, fire him and get one that will. Shovelling off the shingles removes the granulars which protect them, so be careful!

Answer 7

The only thing I can think of is maybe if it's leaking and, that's from the attic but, how can they inspect what they can't see properly.

Answer 8

Absolutely not

Answer 9

no

Answer 10

No it will need to be shoveled off..............