reason to walk the roof

[ekartal6]

Any businessman that's as concerned about the well being of his employess as he is about himself....well that makes him a certified cool dude.

[wsiegel]

Can someone explain to me how you will AC unit that is sitting ont he flat part of the roof if you cannont walk them.

[wsiegel]

From today's inspection.

13 year old concrete tile roof. Looks great from the ground. Found 4 areas of loose tiles that would not pass the TAS 107 pull test here in florida. Couldnt find it if I did not get up on the roof.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by wsiegel

From today's inspection.

13 year old concrete tile roof. Looks great from the ground. Found 4 areas of loose tiles that would not pass the TAS 107 pull test here in florida. Couldnt find it if I did not get up on the roof.

Please elaborate as to what this is?

Thank you

Marcel

[wsiegel]

Marcel,

I assume you mean the TAS 107 pull test. That is a minimum standard windload test that all roofs must pass to meed Dade County code standards and there must be documentation in the NOA prior to installation. Now, while only an engineer can legally administer (certify) this test on a roof, it is not difficult to see if a roof is loose or not, simply by pulling on the tiles.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Thanks Will;

Not being familiar with concrete tile roofs, how would you refer to such test as part of an HI's inspection if it has to be evaluated by an Engineer? How would you note it in a Home Inspection? Just curious.

Marcel

[wsiegel]

I usually do not get too involved in refering the engineers test, unless I have a testy customer. I usually refer it out to a licensed roofer to repair or replace, as needed. The only time it ever really gets referred to the engineer is when an association wants to get toghether to sue the builder or if it is a real large house and the owner is debating between repair or replacement. As you know, you can find someone to repair anything. With the roof, there are certain factors to take into consideration, such as the percentage of roof to be repaired / replaced and underlying damage.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by wsiegel

Can someone explain to me how you will AC unit that is sitting ont he flat part of the roof if you cannont walk them.

Very easy.

I turn the cooling system on using the thermostat in the residence and let it run. Once everyone complains about how cold it is, I turn it off. Cooling system works.

Then, notwithstanding whether or not I have access to the cooling condenser, I regularly recommend an inspection by a licensed heating and cooling professional every 12 months. So if sellers cannot prove that the heating and cooling system has been serviced within the past 12 months, recommend having a complete heating and cooling system evaluation before close of escrow.

Been doing that for over five years and thousands of inspections. No problems. Since heating and cooling professionals (as well as roofing contractors) are licensed in the state of California, and home inspectors are not, I have standard recommendations for such licensed professions notwithstanding anything that I might find. Now whether or not the Client follows my recommendations is not my concern until they write me a letter stating that the heating and cooling system (or any other system that is serviced by licensed professionals) doesn't work, and then I simply ask them, "Did you follow my recommendation in Item A/B/C/D/E/F/whatever?" "Yes." Then call the licensed professional who serviced it. "No." Not liable for advice not followed.

I inform my Clients well before the inspection that "I am a generalist. What that means to you is that I know something about everything but everythting about nothing." That gets a good chuckle and breaks the ice. I also tell them that my contract tells them "what I do and don't do, what I can and cannot do in the State of California, and, when it comes to property damage and personal safety, what I wil and will not do." I go further to explain that certain professionals are licensed in the State of California and name those professions. Then I tell them that there is no licensing for home inspectors in the State of California. So there are licensed professionals who, by law, know more than I do and they really should have those professionals inspecting their property. I tell them the cost of having all those professionals come out for a 1750-SF house (about $2,000) and tell them again my cost ($349). Then I again offer them my TECH inspection (offered it to them over the phone first), explaining that we will have to postpone now in order for me to reschedule with licensed professionals, and I tell them the cost of my TECH inspection is $1,249. Then I ask them to make a choice; Clients love choices, and if they choose again to go with my STANDARD inspection rather than the TECH inspection, that is what they get.

One has to manage one's Clients' expectations. Failing to manage those expectations is where problems creep up.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by wsiegel

13 year old concrete tile roof.

I know about 70 of my 269 competitors. Not a single one would ever walk on a concrete tile roof.

[smedina]

I'm confused now. So if you walk, lets say a asphalt shingle roof and its still under warranty, technically you have just voided that warranty. But if you don't walk it and miss something, you could be held liable. Seems to me that your damed if you do and damned if you don't. Up to this point I've always walked a roof if it was safe to do so. But now I'm beginning to doubt if thats the right thing to do. :0|

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by smedina

I'm confused now. So if you walk, lets say a asphalt shingle roof and its still under warranty, technically you have just voided that warranty. But if you don't walk it and miss something, you could be held liable. Seems to me that your damed if you do and damned if you don't. Up to this point I've always walked a roof if it was safe to do so. But now I'm beginning to doubt if thats the right thing to do. :0|

I haven't read anything here that has changed my method of operation and, if you're careful, you'll do just fine too.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by smedina

So if you walk, lets say a asphalt shingle roof and its still under warranty, technically you have just voided that warranty. But if you don't walk it and miss something, you could be held liable. Seems to me that your damed if you do and damned if you don't.|

You have to manage your Clients' expectations. If you don't do that, then, yes, you are damned if you do and damned if you don't.

The beauty of being self-employed and/or a consultant is that you get to create your business protocols (popularly known as "office politics") and your inspection protocols. So do it; however, consult with a business attorney, a CPA, a tax attorney, and your various insurance providers (life, AD&D, GL, and E&O). If you do that, then you should be okay, regardless of what you choose to do.

Then you mustn't let anyone here at NACHI convince you to do otherwise; after all, why would you spend money on all those people familiar with business and insurance in your area only to come here to NACHI and listen to someone else.

Now you should know what your competition is doing, and you should know the overall health of the industry, but the advice from your own advisors is what you should go with. If you find something new and interesting here at NACHI, run it by your advisors before saying yea or nay to it.

[wward]

Ifind exposed roofing nails on most roofs I walk.
some have backed out through the shingle - pop nail
others were installed improperly even on new construction
people love it when you catch an issue that would otherwise not show it's self untill down thw road

[wward]

[Louis Cannizzaro]

1 story,no problem. Anything above should have an assistant to foot the ladder. I usually work alone.