Common Home Inspection Concerns Regarding Roof

We are a Home Inspections Company based out of Lehigh Valley, serving PA and NJ.
​​During a home inspection, one of the biggest concerns a client has is the condition of the roof.
Replacing a roof is one of the more expensive repairs a home owner may face.
One of the most common issues I see during an inspection, even on homes with newer roofs,
has to do with the drainage system and its downspouts. The gallons of water that hit the
shingles during an average rain shower number in the thousands. The roof pictured is only a
few years old and you can already see the effect that the excess water has had on those
shingles compared to the rest of the roof. And the stain is only a minor part of the problem. The
amount of water passing over that section of the lower roof is dramatically increased compared
to the other shingles. This shortens the lifespan of those shingles, and the lower roof will wear
faster then the upper roof. Even if the matching shingles can be found for the lower roof
replacement, the new ones won't match the older ones. So you are left with a choice. You can
either have two different color roofs or replace the entire roof before it's time.
There is a simple and inexpensive solution. You simply extend the downspouts to reach the
gutter of the lower roof. With this fix the excess water goes from the upper roof
directly in to the lower roof gutter, bypassing the shingles. Paint it the same color as the shingle
and it will almost disappear!