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You've decided to sell your home, but you've noticed the roof is sagging. How serious is it? What has to be done? Get the professional home inspector to perform an inspection on the damaged roof and let you know what has to be done in order for the house to be put on the market.

Inspections of peaked style roof will be performed from the ground. The inspector could potentially use binoculars to bring the roof closer to him. He might want to climb a ladder and walking on the roof to complete the examine if it is safe.

The home inspector will review multiple aspects to conclude the overall condition of the roof. The home inspector will be able to discuss with you the roof's age, design and the materials utilized.

In review of the covering, he will verify the condition for cracks, chips, broken pieces and bubbling. The home inspector will look at the skylights, vents, chimney exterior and any additional object that departs from the roof. Of course, he'll check flashings. The home inspector will look at the frame for rot.

Items like treee branches, debris or anything else touching the roof will result in problems. Adequate drainage is of utmost importance. One other question is, does the water go into the gutters and downspouts? Let's not forget that major wind loads can damage a roof.

Multiple aspects can result in roof sag or slope in places that one would not want. There is a possibility that the roof may have too many layers of material on it. Three or more layers of shingles contribute to dead weight.

The following are supplementary lists of problem causing factors: failure of fire retardant plywood sheathing, inadequate bracing and/or undersized rafters. Shaing fire retardant plywood between homes, will cause a dark charred look on the interior. One should replace the material if the dark charred appearance is showing.

A roof may sag if collar beams or knee walls have been removed to make an attic story into a living space. Contributing aspects of poor design and construction errors can lead to problems.

The home inspector could find that the roof is spreading downward and outward, which is a result of inadequate tying. This doesn't happen a lot, but it's serious when it does happen. Good bracing or tying can stop spreading.

The home inspector will examine the roof for missing collar beams, improper tying of rafters and ceiling joists at the eaves, or improper tying of ceiling joist that create the tension members from one side to the other Altering trusses can result in this problem also.

Damage to the brick wall underneath the eaves, the roof is capable of being put back into its proper position. For this type of project, it is recommended that a structural engineer be consulted.

If there is sagging in a flat roof system, the cause could be from overloading, great span or inadequate support of the joists under the roof. The condition is not of serious nature unless the roof leaks. Water ponding cause problems that result in dead load. A solution would be to strengthen or relevel the roof.

There's a lot to look at carefully when it comes to wood structures as significant as your home's roof. The reason above give insight as to why having a home inspection completed prior to selling your home. Knowing the condition of the roof and the correction of any problems that need to be handled.