When customers ask RDM for a roof inspection and report, they’re often wanting to find out whether a re-roof is necessary or if remediation might be sufficient.

One of the reasons why commercial and residential customers choose RDM for their roof inspections and reports is that we’re not a roofing company. We don’t sell or install roofs, so there’s no incentive for us to be biased towards any particular conclusion and recommendations.

Instead, Sean’s observations are written objectively, referencing the appropriate legislative and industry documents. Although, of course, having more than 30 years of roofing experience definitely helps him diagnose and make suggestions about potential issues.

What prompts customers to ask RDM for a report on an older roof?

Quite often, our customers have noticed physical symptoms of an ailing roof. The worst of these would be serious and ongoing leaks.

There could also be visible issues causing concern, such as rust, ponding water, cracked or missing tiles, or organic growth (lichen, moss, and mould).

How serious these are and how much they could impact the roof’s integrity will depend on a number of factors, including the roof’s age, its overall condition, its location (e.g., a coastal or high wind zone), the appropriateness of the materials used in its construction, and how well it’s been maintained over the years.

Other times, customers may be trying to plan their budgets and get an idea of if or when their roof will need attention and to what degree. It’s about weighing up options – some repairs now might extend the roof’s life for a few more years.

We’re also contacted occasionally by people who’ve noticed their neighbours are having roofing works. This prompts them to wonder if their own roof is in need of some TLC – or will be in the near future.

Will an RDM roof report provide recommendations about what to do next?

RDM’s job is to provide the facts so our customers can make an informed decision about how to proceed. So, the short answer is yes. However, this needs some context.

Property owners should only ever be looking at their roof from ground level. Getting up there and wandering around is a huge health and safety risk. Please don’t do it!

We mention this because, when Sean inspects a roof, he reports on everything he sees, and he’ll take a ton of photos to illustrate this, by drone whenever possible. During the course of the roof inspection, it is highly likely that he’ll find stuff of which the property owner was not aware – things like over-tightened fixings, a reliance on exposed sealant, or inadequate stop-ends.

Based on what he finds, the report recommendations might offer some sensible advice about cleaning and maintenance (perhaps as as simple as a moss-kill and removing debris) or suggest more comprehensive, structural repairs.

The recommendations could also reflect the property owner’s situation. For example, someone who is seeking to extend the roof’s lifespan by just a couple of years before undertaking a more significant and extensive refurbishment project.

But, if a roof is genuinely coming towards the end of its life, and a re-roof is the most appropriate option, the report will say this.

Ultimately, then, it’s up to the customer to decide.

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  • A roofer has told you that you need a new roof, but you’re not sure and would like to have a second opinion.
  • You’ve had a new roof installed and are not happy with it. The roofer says it’s perfect, but you’re not sure.
  • Your old roof is looking tired, but you want to try and make it last another five years. You wonder if that is possible.

If any of these sound familiar, Roof Design and Management can help.

We’ll give you an honest, impartial opinion about the condition of an existing roof or the quality and compliance of a new roof. We can offer recommendations, and point you in the right direction if you do need a roofer.

Roof Design and Management can also provide a maintenance plan, based on your budget and requirements.

Contact us today for a chat.