Roof inspection and roof certification FAQs by Cert-A-Roof

• Are roofs typically a problem?
• Does the roof have coverage under home warranty plans?
• Doesn’t the home inspector inspect the roof?
• What are the LeakFREE® Roof Certification criteria?
• How much does Roof Inspection cost?
• What does a LeakFREE® Roof Certification cost?
• What happens when a certified roof leaks?
• Who needs a roof certification?
• What is the process to get a roof certification?
• What is the difference between a roof inspection and a roof certification?
• Why do you charge for roof inspections when other companies provide them for free?
• Why do you charge for roof estimates when other companies provide them for free?
• Why is your roof repair pricing higher than other estimates I’ve received?
• What is the difference between an estimate and a proposal?

Are roofs typically a problem?

The most common problem discovered and reported by home inspection agencies is the roof. Over 87% of roofs inspected need repairs. A leaky roof can end up costing the homeowner thousands of dollars in damage. Water penetration and roof leaks are the subject of 30% of real estate inspection claims. Roof problems result in 39% of home owner’s insurance claims.

Does the roof have coverage under home warranty plans?

A few home warranty insurance plans offer an option called “roof riders”. This is a one year coverage of the roof. Normal roof coverage, under home warranty plans, is extremely limited and costs extra. When leaks occur, a roofer is sent out by the home warranty company to provide spot roof repairs. Sometimes they will require you to acquire three bids from different roofers instead of sending out a roofer that they already contracted with. Your ability to collect on your rider will depend on the opinion of whoever determines the repair work necessary, unless you happen to have proof of the condition that your roof was in at the time the rider was issued. Cert-A-Roof’s LeakFREE® Certification is a trademarked agreement, making it a superior alternative. Based on a proprietary roof inspection process, we provide assurance and warranty on the condition of the entire roof.

Doesn’t the home inspector inspect the roof?

Visible signs of existing problems are the only thing that home inspectors are allowed to examine. In a normal home inspection, only 46% of roof damage can be seen from the ground. The day of the inspection is the only time at which they are allowed to report on the condition of the roof. The future performance of the roof cannot be guaranteed. Home inspectors will generally recommend a further inspection of the roof by a licensed roofing professional and therefore, defer their opinion until after the inspection can be completed.

What are the LeakFREE® Roof Certification criteria?

Our proprietary process includes these three questions: 1. Is the roof currently leaking? 2. In its current condition, does it have a likelihood of leaking? (Missing shingles, broken tiles, worn felts, etc.) 3. Is the roof not in sufficient condition to be repaired should a leak occur during the certification period? That’s right, these are the only three criteria!

However, if you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then your roof currently does not meet the criteria for the LeakFREE® Roof Certification. In order to qualify your roof, please call (888) ROOF-800 to have your roof professionally inspected.

What does a LeakFREE® Roof Certification cost?

LeakFREE® Roof Inspection Cost

Because roofing costs and the value of a detailed inspection report are both tied to the housing market, our prices vary across different parts of the country. Within each market, our pricing is extremely competitive and fixed for any building up to 2,500 square feet. There is a minimal additional charge per every 100 square feet above 2,500 square feet. We will gladly provide the pricing for your area when you contact us.

LeakFREE® Roof Certification Cost

Once the roof meets the LeakFREE® Roof Certification criteria, a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 year certification can be purchased for an additional fee. The 2-year LeakFREE® Roof Certification is the most requested. Again, our pricing varies by market but we have standard pricing for any building up to 2,500 square feet. Our pricing model is available upon request. We price our certifications aggressively, making it a point to be a very cost-effective alternative to home warranty roof riders.

What happens when a certified roof leaks?

Stopping leaks is a part of our certification process and includes leaks caused by:

• Normal wear-and-tear
• Perils of nature
• Third party damage

When unlikely leaks occur, a priority service call to determine the cause of the leak is made by a Cert-A-Roof member for a nominal fee. This fee is specified on the certificate. If the repair is covered under our repair warranty, or the leak is caused by normal wear-and-tear, no additional cost will be incurred in the remedy of it. Leaks caused by other facts do cost extra, but most often, home owners insurance will cover this. We have experience working with home owners insurance, and will therefore perform associated repairs at a fair price. These repairs are necessary in order to keep the certification in force.

Who needs a roof certification?

All Home Buyers

The condition of the roof should always be a major consideration before buying your home. The roof is one of the most expensive elements of a house and unexpected roof leaks could cost you tens of thousands of dollars in repairs and consequential damages!

Home Sellers

If you want to have a faster and smoother transaction and remove your roof related liability at the same time, then a LeakFREE® Roof Certification is the best option because it provides your buyer with two years of protection.

What is the process to get a roof certification?

First, Cert-A-Roof must conduct a LeakFREE® Roof Inspection to determine if your roof meets the National Roof Certification and Inspection Association (NRCIA) certification criteria. Next, all roof issues indicated in our report must be repaired by Cert-A-Roof. If a different contractor repairs your roof, Cert-A-Roof must conduct another LeakFREE® Roof Inspection at your expense to confirm your roof now meets the NRCIA certification criteria. You would then become eligible to purchase our LeakFREE® Roof Certification. While the costs can vary widely, an example cost for a 2,500 square foot house is $300 for our certified inspection, $3,500 for repairs, and $350 for a two-year certification.

What is the difference between a roof inspection and a roof certification?

A LeakFREE® Roof Inspection is a professional evaluation of the building’s interior, perimeter, attached garage, attic and rooftop designed to analyze if the roof meets the LeakFREE Certification criteria. The inspection findings are presented in a thorough consultative report, accompanied by a reliable proposal package, within 24 – 48 hours. A LeakFREE Roof Certification is a service agreement ensuring that the entire roof — not just a repair site — will remain free of leaks due to normal wear-and-tear for the full duration of the certification period. If a leak does occur, we will repair any leaks due to normal wear and tear during the certification period at no cost to certificate holders. Our certifications are also both transferable to new certificate holders and renewable upon re-inspection.

Why do you charge for roof inspections when other companies provide them for free?

We charge for our LeakFREE® Roof Inspections because we thoroughly evaluate the interior, perimeter, garage, attic and rooftop, provide a detailed consultative report with photographs, and guarantee a fixed and credible price within our proposal package, all within 24 – 48 hours. Other contractors typically only briefly inspect the rooftop and then provide their simple findings with a variable, rough (and often grossly inaccurate) estimate after a few days to up to a week. We invest multiple hours (four hours on average) to provide you with a quality experience, while the average contractor may spend less than one hour total to provide a free inspection. Importantly, our consultative report and proposal package contain several critical components enabling you to make an informed decision, negotiate with the seller, and reduce your uncertainty and risk.

Why do you charge for roof estimates when other companies provide them for free?

We charge for our Roof Leak Investigations and Replacement Proposals because we professionally investigate the proximate cause of the roof damage by inspecting the interior if applicable, the attic at our discernment, and rooftop, and provide a detailed proposal package with a fixed and credible price, all within 24 – 48 hours. An upgrade to include a thorough, consultative report with complete photographs is also available. Other contractors typically only briefly inspect the rooftop and then provide their simple findings with a variable, rough (and often grossly inaccurate) estimate after a week’s span. While the average contractor rushes their free estimate, we commit to provide you with a quality experience and reliable proposal package so you can make an informed decision.

Why is your roof repair pricing higher than other estimates I’ve received?

All Cert-A-Roof contractors are licensed, bonded, insured, and very experienced. Our clients value how we serve them with the highest integrity and customer service, our handcrafted quality workmanship, and the industry-best warranty they can depend on. Other contractors may irresponsibly carry insufficient insurance shifting liability onto you, recommend unsuitable spot repair, or discreetly offer a subpar warranty to keep the price down. We feel these unethical approaches take advantage of uninformed homeowners. While the best and most professional services often feel more expensive, we are still competitive with other high-quality companies. Cert-A-Roof clients who initially felt this concern found that our value-driven benefits and their peace-of-mind far outweighed the cost.

What is the difference between an estimate and a proposal?

Though often used interchangeably, the difference between estimates and proposals is critical. An estimate is only appropriate for a future need to help determine an approximate cost for budgeting purposes. Because of this, the roof inspection is often extremely abridged, and the report (if any) is simple, doesn’t have a clearly-defined scope and could be delayed for over a week. Above all, the quote is a rough estimate that may be grossly inaccurate. On the other hand, a proposal best addresses a current need. The inspection is comprehensive, resulting in a complete report with a clear scope and detailed photographs if applicable as well as a specific, fixed, and reliable quote within 24 – 48 hours. While an estimate only offers inadequate information, our proposal package enables you to make an informed decision.