Random Roof Inspection Saved Me Thousands
I would like to share a recent experience I had with Steve Cymbalsky of Brownstone Home Inspection.
I found Steve recently via a review for the Tinker’s Wagon on Brownstoner. I originally called to get a quote to replace & refurbish my historic townhouse door. Steve doesn’t do that anymore but he somehow talked me into hiring him for a Roof Inspection.
Boy, am I GLAD I did.
Home Inspector never actually went up on my roof (he just flew a drone over and said “it was fine”). Therefore, in the 18 months I have owned the place, I had never once stepped foot up there. So, it seemed like a good idea.
Steve came over, gave the whole house an inspection and the pushed me to go check out the roof. I’ll admit, I was hesitant.
Again, I’m really glad I did.
Steve showed me multiple leaks (some quite glaring) that I did not even know I had. Plus he gave me a crash course in Roof Maintenance. I’ve owned multiple condos before but I’ve never been responsible for a roof. Now I actually know something about them and what matters.
I then spent the rest of the weekend in Home Depot buying up the correct patching materials. No joke, I was texting Steve from the store on a Saturday night to ensure I was getting the right stuff. I then made about 10 patches on my roof saving myself a whole bunch of money.
Beyond the short term savings, I am 100% SURE Steve saved me many, many thousands of dollars in the longterm. Roof repairs/replacements are a fortune and leaks are just awful. Anything you can to do to avoid any of those is well worth the effort.
So, if you own a roof you and are on the hook for the maintenance of it, do yourself a favor and get Steve out to inspect it. Especially if, like me, you are new to this. He’s not like a roofer. He’s not trying to sell you anything. In fact, he’s just trying to warn you, teach you, and save you money.
It was WELL worth the time and money.
nfhwalker
in General Discussion 8 months ago
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Brownstone Home Inspection | 8 months ago
thank you op. I suppose this has been a learning experience for both of us. Up until now, i had been thinking of buying a drone for roof inspections. After this, i can safely say that “if i cannot walk on a roof, i am not going to inspect it”.
i began doing roof inspections and leak investigations for younger, less established homeowners, who might not mind getting their hands dirty, as a way of coaching them into maintaining their roofs without having to call a roofer. I tell people, “if you passed first-grade finger painting and can put frosting on a cake, you can manage the maintenance side of this…” (actual reroofing is another story).
Lately, i have been getting calls from better established professionals. Many of these people are female and while all of them are willing to walk the roof with me and listen to what i have to say, they are less willing to handle messy roofing materials or simply tell me they do not have the time. Invariably, some ask me to do the work and, as generous as some of these people may be, I have to stop doing physical work. One of these people asked me if i would PM roofing work on a larger roof and a week ago someone asked if i would return and check the job of the roofer they would call to do the work based on my report. I am getting to that point. i am now thinking that for a modest fee, i can return and check the work of others based the report i have prepared.
readers should know. Having worked in property management (as the superintendent of a modern residential property in Carolina Beach, NC right after college and here in NYC in management for several commercial buildings beginning in 1995), it is unacceptable for a roof to develop a leak (and know most roof leaks are not in the roof membrane itself). It is also unacceptable for a roof to age prematurely. It is the job of the professional to know the condition of the roof and its flashings at all times (I inspected the roofs on buildings i worked in monthly; i inspect the roof on my house every spring and fall). if you call me and you are willing to walk your roof with me, i will teach how to inspect your own roof the way the professionals do (and better than many of the current class of roofers can) and I will provide you with a written report you can use as a guide as you move forward. i also inspect the elements around the roof (many roofers do not; every roof inspection i do starts on the ground, looking up). I recently told a client “i do not want to be on your roof again”. i did not mean i would not return to help them if they needed, but i want them to be able to inspect and manage their roof themselves should they choose.
I have always provided answers to follow-up questions for people who have used my services.
i do not represent any companies or firms or service people. when people call me, i represent them and them only. In so far as my home inspection business goes, i maintain no relationships with realtors. I can also say it is probable that some realtors do not like me and quite frankly, i am ok with that.