Today I feel compelled to write about roofing inspections and what constitutes replacement requirements. Just because a roof is older doesn’t mean that the sellers are required to replace it.


When purchasing a home you will more than likely be required to have a roof inspected by a certified roofer. As a matter of fact, most lenders will require this prior to approving any loans on the house. In most states, a properly vented roof can last over 20 years. Some states however, especially states with lots of snow accumilation will require to have a roof replaced every 5 years. However, roof replacement can be costly to the sellers so you may find that they aren’t readily willing to cough up the cash unless the roof is actually damaged.


Roof inspections quite simply are used to determine the quality and life expectacy of a roof. Your inspector is not going to go up there and start pulling apart the shingles to see underneath. However, these inspectors do have proceedures that they use so that they can determine the lifespan of a roof without having to tear it apart. Some roof inspectors may even use infrared technology to see if there is any heat loss from the roof in order to evaluate the wear on the roof.


Once the inspection is complete, the inspector will give his report and his determination on if he feels that the roof needs to be replaced, and how long he thinks the roof should last. If the roof passes inspection, the seller is under no obligation to replace the roof. However, if it is an older roof, make sure to discuss this with your insurance agent.