Steep Roof Defects List & Home Inspection Education

DEFECTS LIST - ROOF STEEP SLOPE - Roof inspection suggestions & list of common roof defects for steep slope roofing
Lists of important steep slope roof system defects for residential buildings
What does a home inspector need to know about steep slope roof? Home inspection training and education curriculum recommendations for steep slope roofing systems
BUILDING DEFECTS LISTS - separate article
DEFECTS LIST - STRUCTURE, ROOF - separate article
Questions & Answers about home & building inspection courses, standards, & defect checklists for steep slope roofing systems
References

Click to Show or Hide Related Topics

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

This article lists significant steep slope roofing defects, definitions, and home inspection education topics. This article series, beginning at BUILDING DEFECTS LISTS, provides lists of common building defects and basic defect knowledge that also outline recommended curriculum content for home inspector education. The building defects and inspection points listed in these articles also guide homeowners and home buyers to building areas that merit careful attention and often point areas of safety concern or important maintenance and repair tasks.

Home Inspection Education Curriculum - Steep Roofing

Watch out: these inspection lists do not list all possible defects for the systems discussed, and not all home or building inspectors will examine all of the items listed here. CONTACT us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website.

Also see ROOF FLASHING DEFECTS LIST

These curriculae and building defect lists are based on smilar curriculum documents first prepared by Joe Scaduto, an ASHI member who prepared course material for Northeastern University's Building Inspection Certificate program in 1988, subsequently by DF, InspectApedia's editor, for New York University ca 1988 and later, with others, recommended to ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. ASHI did not adopt this material though currently that association as well as others offer extensive HOME INSPECTOR EDUCATION material. The curriculum and lists of defects are informed by additional analysis of the process of home inspection that was developed beginning Calgary, AB for Canadian and U.S. home inspector education and certification examinations in 1997. Other early contributors to home inspection education in the U.S. and Canada include Dr. Jess Aronstein, Alan Carson, Mike Casey, Mark Cramer, John Cox, Dwight Barnett, Douglas Hansen, Rick Heyl, Larry Hoytt, Bill Merrill, Kevin O'Malley, Dennis Robitalille, Keith Peddie, Pat Porzio, Roger Robinson.

1.0 ROOFING Inspection Requirements & Common Steep Slope Roof Defects List

1.1 Steep Slope Roofing Inspection Recommendations

1.1.1 Knowledge Base for Steep Slope Roof Inspections

1. Describe the function of steep roof coverings.

2. Describe the following common roofing types:

asphalt shingle, wood shingles and shakes, slate, clay tile, concrete tile, fiber cement, metal, roll roofing.

3. List the materials/components of each of the roofing materials.

4. Describe the features of adequate installation and repair technique for each of the roofing materials, including slope, exposure, head lap, number and type of fasteners, sheathing and underlayment, weight per square, number of layers permitted.

5. Define the following terms with respect to steep roofing:

pitch, square, hip, mansard, butterfly, shed, gable, gambrel, live loads, dead loads, ice dams, drip edge flashing, eave protection, avalanche guards, underlayment, self-sealing, starter strips, cutting the points, low slope roof, , face grain, flat grain and edge grain with respect to wood shingles, undercoursing, underlayment, skip sheathing, solid sheathing, Dutch lap, open slating and French method with respect to slate roofing, Spanish tile and Mission tile.

6. Outline the typical life expectancies of each roofing material.

7. Describe the effect of these factors on the rate of aging of roofing materials:

UV exposure, color, ventilation, wind exposure, pitch, complexity of roof, foot traffic, concentrated water from drainage systems, tree branches.

8. Identify the codes or standards which apply to steep roof coverings in your area.

1.1.2 Inspection Skills for Steep Slope Roof Inspections

1. Describe the inspection procedure for each steep roof covering.

2. Identify the common steep roofing defects listed on the next page.

3. Identify the implication of each defect.

4. Identify safety issues for the inspector and occupant of the home (fall hazard and electric shock from service entrance wires).

5. Communicate findings to client verbally and in writing, recommending corrective action where needed.

STEEP ROOFING TYPICAL DEFECTS (may not include all defects)

ASPHALT ROOF DEFECTS

• Blisters

• Clawing ??

• Cracking

• Cupping, curling

• Damage

• Exposed fasteners

• Exposure too great

• Granule loss

• Ice dam potential

• Multiple layers

• No underlayment

• Overhangs too big, small

• Patches

• Shingles – torn, missing

• Slope too low

• Slots wide (old)

• Vulnerable areas

WOOD SHINGLES AND SHAKES ROOF DEFECTS

• Buckling

• Cupping, curling

• Damaged, broken or missing pieces

• Exposed fasteners

• Exposure too big

• Hip and ridge pieces falling apart

• Ice dam potential

• Joints line up in every other row

• Knots, flame pattern (lower quality materials)

• Loose pieces

• Moss, mildew, etc.

• Multiple layers( Duplication? JDG)

• No interlay on shakes maybe means shingles?(may be OK)

(Shakes on pitches of greater than 7/12 do not require interlay felts. JDG )

• Overhangs too big, small

• Patches

• Pieces too wide

• Rot

• Slope too low

• Spacing too tight

• Side-by-side

• Splitting

• Vulnerable areas

• Wear-through, burn-through

SLATE ROOF DEFECTS

• Broken Slates

• Brown, white surface on slates

• Cracked Slates

• Damaged slates

• Delaminating (Spalling) JDG

• Exposed fasteners (may be OK)

• Exposure too great

• Ice dam potential

• Loose Slates

• Missing Slages

• Missing or loose hip, ridge, rake, eave pieces

• Overhangs too big, small

• Patched Slates

• Ribbons (weak areas)(Not all ribbon types are bad) - JDG

• Slope too low

• Soft, crumbly Slates

• Tarred Slates

• Vulnerable areas

• Moss growth on slate roof

CLAY/CONCRETE/FIBER CEMENT ROOF DEFECTS

• Broken roof tiles

• Color fading

• Cracked

• Damaged roof tiles roof tiles

• Efflorescence on roof tiles

• Exposed fasteners, no fasteners

• Exposure too great

• Missing or loose hip, ridge, rake, eave pieces

• Patched roof tiles

• Slope too low (no membrane below)

• Spalling (Have never seen spalling metal surfaces.) JDG

• Vulnerable areas

METAL ROOF DEFECTS

• Buckled

• Dent, damage

• Exposed fasteners (may be OK)

• Exposure too great

• Failed fasteners

• Ice dam potential

• Loose

• Missing

• Open seams

• Overhangs too big, small

• Patched

• Rust

• Slope too low

• Tarred (temporary repairs better description)

ROLL ROOFING DEFECTS (on steep or low slope roofs)

• Algae discoloration

• Blisters

• Buckling or wrinkling

• Cracks

• Damage

• Exposed nails not sealed

• Granule loss

• Open seams

• Rusted nails, exposed nails (if not installed with ARMA exposed nail method)

• Seams facing uphill

• Vulnerable areas

• Limited life expectancy

• Parallel to eave method and parallel to rake method problems

Readers should see ROOFING INSPECTION & REPAIR for our complete list of articles on this topic. Also see HOME & BUILDING INSPECTORS & INSPECTION METHODS. Use the Search Box at the top or bottom of these pages to find in-depth information about building, energy savings, and indoor environment inspection, diagnosis and repair at this website. Watch out: these inspection lists do not list all possible defects for the systems discussed, and not all home or building inspectors will examine all of the items listed here. CONTACT us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website.

Also see ROOF FLASHING DEFECTS LIST

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

...

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Use the search box below to ask a question or to search the InspectApedia.com website.

Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below.

Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. Mr. Cramer serves on the ASHI Home Inspection Standards. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com
John Cranor is an ASHI member and a home inspector (The House Whisperer) is located in Glen Allen, VA 23060. He is also a contributor to InspectApedia.com in several technical areas such as plumbing and appliances (dryer vents). Contact Mr. Cranor at 804-747-7747 or by Email: johncranor@verizon.net
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
- Commercial Building Inspection Courses - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
- Home Inspection Education Courses including home study & live classes at eleven colleges & universities.
- Home Inspection Education Home Study Courses - ASHI@Home Training 10-course program.
  Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
  Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference eBook, an electronic version for PCs, the iPad, iPhone, & Android smart phones.
  Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter inspectaehrb in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Illustrated Home illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
  Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones.
Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com 11/06
Roger Hankey is principal of Hankey and Brown home inspectors, Eden Prairie, MN. Mr. Hankey is a past chairman of the ASHI Standards Committee. Mr. Hankey has served in other ASHI professional and leadership roles. Contact Roger Hankey at: 952 829-0044 - rhankey@hankeyandbrown.com. Mr. Hankey is a frequent contributor to InspectAPedia.com.
Arlene Puentes, an ASHI member and a licensed home inspector in Kingston, NY, and has served on ASHI national committees as well as HVASHI Chapter President. Ms. Puentes can be contacted at ap@octoberhome.com
Wikipedia provided background information about some topics discussed at this website provided this citation is also found in the same article along with a " retrieved on" date. NOTE: because Wikipedia entries are fluid and can be amended in real time, we cite the retrieval date of Wikipedia citations and we do not assert that the information found there is necessarily authoritative.

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.

The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.

ASHI Certification Links
Home Inspection Reports - a Critique narrative vs. checklist type home inspection reports
ASHI Standards of Practice - Jan 2000 and ASHI Standards History - links to older and alternative versions of Home Inspection Standards
ASHI Code of Ethics 1993, and ASHI Ethics History - links to older versions; Note: newer may be found at ASHI
ASHI in 1996 ASHI History - association description from 1996
American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) Official Website
Basement Moisture Control, U.S. Department of Energy
Building Pathology, Deterioration, Diagnostics, and Intervention, Samuel Y. Harris, P.E., AIA, Esq., ISBN 0-471-33172-4, John Wiley & Sons, 2001 [General building science-DF] ISBN-10: 0471331724 ISBN-13: 978-0471331728
Building Pathology: Principles and Practice, David Watt, Wiley-Blackwell; 2 edition (March 7, 2008) ISBN-10: 1405161035 ISBN-13: 978-1405161039

Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd

Crawl Space Moisture Control, U.S. Department of Energy
Historic Preservation Technology: A Primer, Robert A. Young, Wiley (March 21, 2008) ISBN-10: 0471788368 ISBN-13: 978-0471788362
...


	InspectAPedia^®	Question? Just ask us!	InspectAPedia
Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair

Question? Just ask us!

Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair

Steep Roof Defects List & Home Inspection Education (function() { var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true; po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })();

Home Inspection Education Curriculum - Steep Roofing

1.0 ROOFING Inspection Requirements & Common Steep Slope Roof Defects List

1.1 Steep Slope Roofing Inspection Recommendations

1.1.1 Knowledge Base for Steep Slope Roof Inspections

1.1.2 Inspection Skills for Steep Slope Roof Inspections

STEEP ROOFING TYPICAL DEFECTS (may not include all defects)

ASPHALT ROOF DEFECTS

WOOD SHINGLES AND SHAKES ROOF DEFECTS

SLATE ROOF DEFECTS

CLAY/CONCRETE/FIBER CEMENT ROOF DEFECTS

METAL ROOF DEFECTS

ROLL ROOFING DEFECTS (on steep or low slope roofs)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Technical Reviewers & References

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Steep Roof Defects List & Home Inspection Education