Level of detail in the InterNACHI Roof Inspection Certification course/ advanced desi

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

There are a couple of reasons to take on an advanced designation. One is marketing reasons... you can put that logo on your website and explain to those interested that your inspection skills exceed those of your competitors who only provide the bare minimum. Your skills exceed theirs, you're better qualified to protect them, and here's the qualification to prove it.

The other is more personal. The greater your library of inspection knowledge, the less likely you are to make a mistake, and the more impressive you'll be during a conversation involving inspection.


So here's the question:
In an advanced course on inspecting, say... wood roofs, you want to be able to give general information on products for cleaning and preserving them. What about more detailed information on equipment and methods? You don't need to know it as an inspector, but it may help you recognize bad work by contractors or advise your clients if you want to do that.

What should I include in the course? What's appropriate and what don't you want to have to wade through? Here's examples as I have them now:


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WOOD ROOF MAINTENANCE

KENTON

Wood roofs should be maintained on a regular basis. Damaged or missing shakes or shingles should be replaced and loose ones should be re-fastened. The roof and gutters should be cleaned and tree branches should be trimmed back so that they don’t overhang the roof. Overhanging branches will cause leaves to accumulate on the roof and in gutters.
As fasteners loosen over time, cap shingles for ridges and hips will often begin to separate and allow moisture intrusion or lose wind resistance. Look for problems in valleys, at roof penetrations and along the lower roof edges.
Squirrels and raccoons may chew or tear wood roofing, especially at areas which are decayed. Shingles with this kind of damage should be replaced.


CLEANING WOOD ROOFS
Depending on the condition of the roof, there are two methods for cleaning… bleach and power washing.

Bleach
In many parts of North America, wood roofs suffer discoloration from sunlight, mold fungi and algae. Roofs with this type of damage can be cleaned easily and effectively with bleaching agents like household bleach or swimming pool chlorine mixed with tap water. Diluted correctly, these solutions remove oxidized wood fibers and kill microbes like fungi and algae. The roof color will be lightened to a degree depending on the strength of the solution. The solution is sprayed on with a common garden pump-type sprayer and allowed to remain for 15 to 30 minutes, after which it’s washed off with a garden hose or pressure washer. Scrubbing or brushing is not necessary, but it is necessary to protect landscaping..
The pressure washer will be more effective in removing damaged wood fibers, microbial growth and leaf debris. Bleach solutions are not effective at removing dirt, rust stains, extractive stains, or heavy moss or lichen growth. These problems require a pressure washer.

CONTRACTOR DIALOGUE
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If you use household bleach… which is 5% sodium hypochlorite… it should be mixed with equal amounts of water, although stronger solutions can be used. Swimming pool chlorine… which is calcium hypochiorite and 65% chlorine… can be mixed at 2 to 4 ounces per gallon of water. The recommended coverage rate is 1 to 1 ½ gallons per 100 square feet of roof area.
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HOME INSPECTOR DIALOGUE
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Pressure Washing
Certain types of moss, algae and lichen will need to be removed using a high-pressure washer similar to those used to clean cars. Pressure washing removes the surface layer of wood fibers and can restore wood roofs to their original color. Excessive pressure can damage roofs, so using them requires some judgment. Pressures around 1000 to 1500 psi with a 15-degree spray fan tip with cold water are usually adequate. Hot water and strong soaps or cleaners are not necessary and may contribute to extractive bleeding.
Certain types of moss, algae and lichen will need to be removed using a high-pressure washer similar to those used to clean cars. Pressure washing removes the surface layer of wood fibers and can restore wood roofs to their original color.
Wet wood roofs are slippery, so if you recommend that a wood roof be cleaned, be sure to recommend that work be performed by a qualified contractor.
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CONTRACTOR DIALOGUE
Start
Scene
Pressure Washing
Certain types of moss, algae and lichen will need to be removed using a high-pressure washer similar to those used to clean cars. Pressure washing removes the surface layer of wood fibers and can restore wood roofs to their original color. Excessive pressure can damage roofs, so using them requires some judgment. Pressures around 1000 to 1500 psi with a 15-degree spray fan tip with cold water are usually adequate. Hot water and strong soaps or cleaners are not necessary and may contribute to extractive bleeding.
Certain types of moss, algae and lichen will need to be removed using a high-pressure washer similar to those used to clean cars. Pressure washing removes the surface layer of wood fibers and can restore wood roofs to their original color. Excessive pressure can damage roofs. Pressures around 1000 to 1500 psi with a 15-degree spray fan tip with cold water are usually adequate. Hot water and strong soaps or cleaners are not necessary and may contribute to extractive bleeding. Keep the tip of the wand 8 to 12 inches from the surface.
Wet wood roofs are slippery, so stand where it’s dry as you work.
End

Preservative treatments
Preservative treatments can be used to slow the growth of mold fungi and moss. As wood roofs become more expensive to replace and wood roof preservative products become less expensive, less toxic and more durable… cleaning and treating roofs with preservatives will be more cost effective. Texas Forest Service evaluations of products for preservative treatments for wood shakes and shingles… which have been underway since 1975… indicate that both water and oil-borne treatments can be very effective for up to 5 years.
There are two basic types of preservative applications, water-borne and oil-borne. Both are penetrating types.

Water-borne Preservatives
Water-borne preservatives are available that are very effective at controlling mold, moss and lichen growth and the development of decay. Some of them may initially turn the roof green although it will weather to a cedar-brown over time. This initial discoloration be avoided by pigmenting the preservative before it’s applied. The downside to water-borne preservatives is that they don’t help prevent the drying effects of the sun and cupping, curling or splitting, since these problems are caused by moisture absorbtion.

Oil-borne Preservatives
Oil-borne preservatives have naphthenic or paraffin-based compounds that help replenish the oils in wood that have been lost to sun and roof runoff. They’re resistant to oxidation from UV in sunlight and don’t make the roof any more combustible than it already is.

Film-forming Preservatives
Film-forming preservative coatings like paint and varnish should be avoided, since they will slow the drying process. Moisture can be absorbed by wood roofs through small cracks in the coating. If shingles have a film-forming finish coating applied while the shakes or shingles are in place, any moisture find its way beneath the coating will be absorbed by the untreated backs and trapped by the coating applied to the faces, so film-forming finish coating will shorten the expected service life of a wood roof.


CONTRACTOR DIALOGUE
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Some of the more effective preservatives are not available to homeowners or applicators in small quantities, so it’s a good idea to contact the Texas Forest Service for the latest information on preservative products for wood roofs. Also, these evaluations are based on conditions in Texas, so contractor in other climate zones should take the time to find out what treatments are appropriate and available in their areas.

Application Equipment
Although they provide for slow application, garden-type pumps will work adequately for bleach solutions, water-borne preservatives and light solvents. They don’t work for naphthenic-oil treatments. Although more expensive airless sprayers can by used for naphthenic-oil treatment, they’re really overkill. Cheaper and more reliable sprayers can be made with diaphragm pumps like those used in the lawn, turf and pest-control industries. These pumps are good at resisting wear from the pigments and mildewcides in preservatives. A truck-mounted sprayer with 300 feet of hose is adequate to reach most roofs. The pumps are usually driven by gas or diesel engines. Spray guns should be a high-pressure type, able to hand pressures up to about 3,000 PSI. The sprayer should have tips with orifices from 15 to 40 one-thousandths of an inch and fan spreads between 15 and 65 degrees. 18-inch wand extensions can make the work easier on your back, and longer extensions are available for steep, chopped-up roofs, but they’re heavy.
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[Brian E. Kelly]

I think the more info the better Kenton. We can decide how to use it.

[David C. Macy]

Kenton

The above information will be useful as I do not see to many wood roofs but this will be helpful. Great work!! Glad you are feeling better!!

I completed the Certainteed master Shingle Applicator course last year.

Are there logos available to use for marketing?

[Linas Dapkus]

Originally Posted by dmacy

Kenton

The above information will be useful as I do not see to many wood roofs but this will be helpful. Great work!! Glad you are feeling better!!

I completed the Certainteed master Shingle Applicator course last year.

Are there logos available to use for marketing?

Which logo? They have several available:
Full-Time Certified Master Shingle Inspector
Part-Time Certified Master Shingle Inspector
Full-Time Certified Master Shingle Inspector-Roof Walker Designation
Part-Time Certified Master Shingle Inspector-Roof Walker Designation
Full-Time Certified Master Shingle Inspector-Ladder Access Designation
Part-Time Certified Master Shingle Inspector-Ladder Access Designation

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Mine is much more simple with regard to wood roofing material.

"You should obtain estimates for a re-roof."

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

No logo for the roof certification course, but we still need to finish it.

I guess better too much info than too little. That's really the question.